The annual Paul Stops Here Mock Draft is back.

I had a greater appreciation for this year’s mock draft than most, especially after skipping last year’s due to time constraints. Ultimately, though, NFL draft coverage and mock drafts are passion projects I look forward to every season. Hopefully, it can turn into less of a passion project and more of a full-time gig. Until then, let’s get into the 2026 Paul Stops Here Illustrated Mock Draft.

This is a “What I would do” mock draft, not a predictive mock.

1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

This is the easiest pick in the draft. Not only does he have ideal arm strength and size for a starting quarterback in the NFL, but he also showed his best play in the biggest moments.

2. New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB/ED, Ohio State

I find the rhetoric surrounding Reese entering the draft to be silly. Is he a linebacker or an edge player? Who cares. He is a decisive, freaky athlete who moves well in space and seeks violent contact against blockers and ball carriers.

3. Arizona Cardinals – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

The Cardinals are in an obvious spot to trade down. They have a ton of holes in their roster and could use a good draft haul to start rebuilding. If they don’t, I think Fano is a good pick to support their new quarterback whenever they get one.

4. Tennessee Titans – Rueben Bain Jr., ED, Miami

There is a ton of smoke surrounding Tennessee and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. However, I do not think the Titans have the current infrastructure for Love to be fully utilized – particularly along the offensive line. Bain is not a prototypical edge prospect, but his strength and relentlessness pop off the tape.

5. New York Giants – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

A converted linebacker from safety, Styles has rare movement speed in space and navigating blocks. Even with the talent to be the NFL’s next best linebacker, he still has some growing pains after not having played linebacker very long.

6. Cleveland Browns – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

Freeling will be 21 on draft night but already shows potential to be an above-average starting left tackle in the NFL. The Browns need to replace every spot along their offensive line and Freeling’s potential should be an easy buy in the top 10.

7. Washington Commanders – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Love is a conscious top-3 player in this year’s draft, but like any running back, he requires a foundation of talent around him to be utilized to his full potential. Love is an explosive athlete with remarkable balance and burst as a ball-carrier with true pass-catching skills and blocking as a three-down back.

8. New Orleans Saints – David Bailey, ED, Texas Tech

Bailey is an ideal height-weight-speed edge player for today’s NFL. The 22-year-old rusher is still learning how to add more to his repertoire, but already projects as a versatile NFL starter.

9. Kansas City Chiefs – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Tate is nearly the opposite of what the Chiefs have done at wide receiver in the Mahomes era. He is a long, tall and proficient pass-catcher at all three levels. He should have an immediate impact and be a good change of pace at wide receiver for Kansas City.

10. New York Giants – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Downs is one of the other consensus top prospects in this year’s draft. The only problem is that he plays safety in the modern NFL, which prioritizes other positions. He is one of the few athletes who can play anywhere in the defensive backfield, and he should be an impactful starter right away.

11. Miami Dolphins – Francis Mauigoa, OT/iOL, Miami

The 20-year-old tackle is one of the youngest prospects in the draft, despite being a three-year starter at Miami. Mauigoa has excellent strength as a run blocker and can play either tackle or at guard in the NFL.

12. Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Delane is a bit undersized for an NFL cornerback at 5-foot-11 and 187 pounds but possesses elite speed and quick feet in coverage. His route anticipation is some of the best among anyone in the class and is versatile enough to play outside or in the slot in the NFL.

13. Los Angeles Rams – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona

The Allen, Texas native was a two-year starter at Arizona State with elite production while he was on the field for the Sun Devils. The 21-year-old has a concerning injury history but is a twitchy athlete who creates separation during the route and at the catch point.

14. Baltimore Ravens – Olavavega Ioane, iOL, Penn State

Ioane is a stout blocker in the pass game with strong hands and a sturdy base. His best trait is as a run blocker, where he smothers defenders. He should be a long-term player at either guard spot.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Akheem Mesidor, ED, Miami

One of the older prospects in the draft, Mesidor will come into the NFL as a 25-year-old prospect with four years of starting tape in college. He comes into the NFL as a polished edge rusher with endless motor – perfect for a Buccaneers squad that needs pass rush help asap.

16. New York Jets – Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Lemon does not come into the NFL with eye-popping measurables, but he is a smooth, manipulative and tough wide receiver. He plays similarly to former Trojans receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and should slot in as a Z or slot option.

17. Detroit Lions – Kadyn Proctor, OT/iOL, Alabama

Proctor is an enormous offensive line prospect with three years of starting experience at Alabama. He is a bit underdeveloped, but projects as a capable tackle or an elite guard in the NFL.

18. Minnesota Vikings – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Hood has only one year of starting experience in college, but is a great fit for defensive coordinator Brian Flores. He is a scrappy outside corner that will thrive in Flores’ man-heavy scheme.

19. Carolina Panthers – Kevin Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

The 21-year-old and three-year starter has plenty of drops on tape, but is an excellent playmaker with a good feel for getting open before the catch and creating after. He projects as a starting slot or X and will be a perfect fit for quarterback Bryce Young, who desperately needs a receiver with YAC ability.

20. Dallas Cowboys – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Thieneman projects as a versatile safety that will start early in any defensive scheme. He is a smart defensive back with an eagerness to attack in the run game – an edge the Cowboys defense desperately needs.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

A two-year starter at San Diego State, Johnson projects best as an athletic outside corner in a zone-heavy or off-coverage man defense. He has elite movement skills and is quick to diagnose route concepts to make plays on the ball.

22. Los Angeles Chargers – Zion Young, ED, Missouri

Young has the ideal size for the NFL but lacks elite burst off the ball, though his relentless motor and strength open pathways to pressures and sacks. He has a ways to go as a pass rusher, but is an elite run defender for a team that needs help in that department.

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

A.J. Brown’s tenure on the Eagles looks to be ending sooner rather than later, so Howie Roseman will pick up his replacement in the first round. Boston has ideal size and ball skills for an X receiver, though he is not the best separator before the catch point.

24. Cleveland Browns – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

Cooper Jr. lacks ideal size-weight-speed measurables for a wide receiver but is strong at the catchpoint and with his run-after-catch ability. He will play an important role in new coach Todd Monken’s scheme.

25. Chicago Bears – Kayden McDonald, NT, Ohio State

McDonald does not have much of a pass-rush after one year of starting at Ohio State, but is already a dominant run-game presence. The Bears’ biggest drawback in their breakout season was their run defense – McDonald will be an immediate fix.

26. Buffalo Bills – TJ Parker, ED, Clemson

The 21-year-old pass rusher was seen as a potential top pick coming into the 2025-26 college football season, but like the rest of Clemson’s team, fell shy of expectations. Drafting Parker in the first round will be a strong belief that he can unlock the potential many saw in 2024.

27. San Francisco 49ers – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

Lomu needs to add more strength as a blocker, but he possesses elite movement skills and size for an NFL tackle. He will perform best as a tackle in Kyle Shanahan’s wide-zone scheme.

28. Houston Texans – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Sadiq is a mismatch nightmare in the passing game with impressive speed and movement skills for a 240-pound tight end. The Texans have been searching for a pass-catching option outside of Nico Collins and Sadiq will fit that role perfectly.

29. Kansas City Chiefs – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

The Chiefs are betting McCoy can get and stay healthy after an injury-plagued 2025. Without the history of injury, McCoy is clearly the best corner prospect in this year’s draft with his twitchy movement skills and spatial instincts.

30. Miami Dolphins – Keldric Faulk, ED, Auburn

Faulk is a massive edge prospect with loads of potential as a 21-year-old and three-year starter at Auburn. He’s a good athlete at 275 pounds and the type of project Miami is willing to take on at this point in its rebuild.

31. New England Patriots – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

It is no secret that the Patriots’ offensive line struggled in the Super Bowl, and Miller provides an immediate fix to that problem. He is an ideal height-weight prospect at offensive tackle with above-average athleticism and is a multiple-year starter at Clemson.

32. Seattle Seahawks – Malachi Lawrence, ED, UCF

A two-year starter at UCF, Lawrence is a linear mover with an elite first step and pass rush repertoire. The 22-year-old rusher lacks bend and is a little small but should be an immediate impact pass rusher.