The NFC and AFC championship game matchups are set, with the 2026 NFL draft order set through the first 28 overall picks, as only four teams left in the hunt to win Super Bowl 60.
It's also the end of the FBS college season, with Indiana and Miami squaring off in the College Football Playoff national championship game.
That intersection is a good time to chime in with another updated AllSportsPeople mock draft with the latest first-round projections, with Hoosiers and Hurricanes stars having an early impact:
MORE 2026 NFL PLAYOFFS:
NFL Mock Draft 2026
1. Las Vegas Raiders
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (6-5, 225 pounds)
The Raiders, with the No. 1 pick for the second time in franchise history (first since taking JaMarcus Russell) in 2007, need to go after a non-bust quarterback right off the top. Mendoza, a prolific pocket passing winner through the CFP championship game, looks the part with his arm and intangibles, two things that should appeal to the part-owner influence of Tom Brady.
MORE: Ranking Raiders' top options for potential No. 1 overall pick
2. New York Jets
- Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (6-3, 275 pounds)
With no Dante Moore to take as their next franchise passer, the Jets can pivot to a huge defensive need to better rush the passer. Bain can take over games as a pass-rusher and has kept boosting his stock with a bigger spotlight as the Hurricanes' top defender during their CFP championship run.
3. Arizona Cardinals
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (6-0, 205 pounds)
The Cardinals need to add more defensive firepower in moving on from Jonathan Gannon and this do-everything playmaker is exactly what they need in a rebuild of the entire attack.
4. Tennessee Titans
Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State (6-4, 243 pounds)
The Titans also need someone to make a ton of plays all over the field to boost their defense and Reese has outstanding pass-rush qualities as part of his complete playmaking, versatile skill set on the second level.
5. New York Giants
Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (6-6, 315 pounds)
The Giants battled through injuries to left tackle Andrew Thomas and other offensive linemen in Jaxson Dart's rookie season, so boosting his protection and run blocking will be imperative for Joe Schoen and John Harbaugh. Mauigoa can give them the needed dominant pass protector.
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6. 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's vein, only lacking the hyphen.
7. Washington Commanders
David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (6-3, 250 pounds
The Commanders need to get young, more explosive and tougher vs. The run in the pass rush and Bailey can give Dan Quinn all of that in the transition to a new defensive coordinator for his system.
8. New Orleans Saints
Makai Lemon, WR, USC (5-11, 195 pounds)
The Saints cleaned house at wide receiver behind Chris Olave, who always seems to be dealing with an offseason injury issue. They need someone to better complement him with big plays out of the slot and after the catch, meaning Lemon can be the DeVonta Smith for this version of Kellen Moore's offense.
MORE: Ranking 10 best NFL Draft prospects in 2025 College Football Playoff
9. Kansas City Chiefs
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (6-0, 214 pounds)
The Chiefs went down this path in 2020 to limited results with Clyde Edwards-Helaire as bust No. 32 overall pick. But it's time to clean up the backfield again with the oft-injured Isiah Pacheco and aging Kareem Hunt, while keeping Brashard Smith as the receiving change of pace for Love's power, explosive workhorse role.
10. Cincinnati Bengals
Peter Woods, DT, Clemson (6-3, 315 pounds)
The Bengals need to upgrade their interior pop to better stop the run and also restore some inside pass rush to help the defense. Woods has the potential to be their new Geno Atkins.
11. Miami Dolphins
- Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee (6-0, 193 pounds)
The Dolphins need to boost cornerback after trading Jalen Ramsey and McCoy gives them the size, toughness and physicality to be stronger in man coverage.
12. Dallas Cowboys
- Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn (6-6, 285 pounds)
The Cowboys must address their pass rush again early after trading Micah Parsons. Faulk is a natural dominant force against the run and has high upside in getting to the quarterback.
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons)
Spencer Fano, OT, Utah (6-6, 302 pounds)
The Rams have had reliable rock right tackle Rob Havenstein for a long time but they need to find a new well-around power blocker there and Fano would be a great successor.
14. Baltimore Ravens
- T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson (6-3, 265 pounds)
The Ravens need to upgrade edge rush again after that element disappeared from the struggling pass defense. Parker is well-rounded vs. Run and pass because of his size, strength and quickness combination.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (6-4, 243 pounds)
The Buccaneers need to restore the versatility in their second level for Todd Bowles' defense. Styles is just a notch or two below Reese in providing that rangy playmaking.
MORE 2026 NFL PLAYOFF NEWS:
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16. New York Jets (from Colts)
- Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State (6-3, 195 pounds)
The Jets may not be able to target a QB early with Alabama's Ty Simpson as the best option after the Raiders take Mendoza, so they might as well get their passer a big-time downfield target with great size to help fellow Buckeye Garrett Wilson.
17. Detroit Lions
- Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State (6-3, 326 pounds)
The Lions need more punch on their defensive line to support Aidan Hutchinson. McDonald can be a powerful asset vs. The run and also provide some extra inside pass-rush juice.
18. Minnesota Vikings
Denzel Boston, WR, Washington (6-4, 209 pounds)
The Vikings need to go for a big, strong physical threat at the receiver to draw some attention away from Justin Jefferson on the outside and Boston can do that with his toughness to catch balls in tight coverage.
19. Carolina Panthers
Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State (6-4, 330 pounds)
The Panthers need some interior line help in front of Bryce Young and the running game and Ioane would be a nice upgrade on either the left or right side.
20. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers)
Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson (5-11, 180 pounds)
The Cowboys got tired of Trevon Diggs' inconsistency and need to have a sound, well-rounded cornerback who can handle different kinds of coverage for what will be a new-look defense minus fired coordinator Matt Eberflus. Terrell, brother of Falcon A.J. Terrell, is well-rounded with his versatile athleticism and smarts to make plays anywhere on the ball.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M (5-11, 190 pounds)
The Steelers need to get a second big-play threat to support DK Metcalf and Concepcion would be the ideal throwback, regardless of who's quarterbacking, with his sharp route-running and quickness to add juice inside and out.
Sean Thomas/Imagn Images
22. Los Angeles Chargers
Caleb Banks, DT, Florida (6-6, 330 pounds)
The Chargers need to beef up both lines for Jim Harbaugh but defense can come first, hoping that they can just get healthy at offensive tackle. Banks is very quick and nimble for his big frame to disrupt a lot of plays.
MORE CFP CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS:
23. Philadelphia Eagles
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon (6-3, 245 pounds)
Dallas Goedert had a career year scoring touchdowns but he just turned 31 and is a pending free agent. Sadiq would add another welcome explosive element to create mismatches between A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to get open down the seam for Jalen Hurts.
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars)
Kaydn Proetor, OT, Alabama (6-7, 366 pounds)
The Browns, should they go wide receiver early to fill one big offensive need, would need to come back and address their blocking issues with age and injury-related reboot needed up front. Proctor can be drafted most to provide a major run-blocking upgrade and his frame gives him the upside to grow into a steadier pass protector.
25. Chicago Bears
- Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M (6-2, 248 pounds)
The Bears need more natural pass-rush help for Dennis Allen so he has a front-four bookend to facilitate the defense opposite Montez Sweat. Howell would make sense as a defensive reinforcement first over any more help for Caleb Williams.
26. Buffalo Bills
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU (6-0, 190 pounds)
The Bills have more wide receiver emptiness but they can't go there again for sure with so many defensive reset considerations in the post Sean McDermott era. Delane has a lot of different coverage sensibility and versatility to deliver for the next coach.
27. San Francisco 49ers
Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah (6-6, 304 pounds)
Lomu would make a lot of sense with Trent Williams needing to be replaced soon at age 37. He would be a big, athletic rock to seamlessly fit right into Kyle Shanahan's run-blocking scheme, first as a swing backup with some potential to upgrade inside.
28. Houston Texans
Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon (6-5, 318 pounds)
The Texans' weak offensive line might lose average right guard Ed Ingram in free agency and needs more youthful talent upgrades. Pregnon moves so well for such a physical, nasty presence inside.