With the underclassmen declaration window now closed, Daniel Jeremiah’s first 2026 mock emerges as draft season ramps up ahead of the April 23 draft in Pittsburgh. Jeremiah projects the Las Vegas Raiders taking quarterback Mendoza at No. 1 overall, while the New York Jets use their high pick to target edge/athletic help and multiple teams prioritize receivers and offensive line help. The projection emphasizes a deep edge-rusher class and notable receiver depth, but also flags an across-the-board urgency for offensive linemen. Jeremiah cautions this is an early look: college all-star games, the Scouting Combine and free agency could reshape the board.
Key takeaways
- Mendoza projected No. 1 to the Raiders; Jeremiah highlights Mendoza’s role in Indiana’s national title and cites 39 red-zone touchdowns with zero red-zone interceptions since 2024.
- Jets projected to use pick No. 2 on a versatile defender (Reese) who played both off-ball linebacker and edge at Ohio State and could shift to a full-time edge role.
- Several top-15 selections are offensive linemen (Fano at No. 3, Mauigoa at No. 4, Ioane at No. 14) reflecting league-wide O-line demand.
- Depth at receiver is a theme: Jeremiah places impact pass-catchers in the mid-to-late first round for teams such as the Rams, Panthers and Steelers.
- Interior and edge pass rushers feature heavily, with Bailey (No. 6), Bain (No. 9) and Mesidor (No. 17) among the high-upside rushers projected in Round 1.
- Several first-round defensive backs (Delane No. 5, McCoy No. 10, Terrell No. 23) signal teams prioritizing coverage as free agency and impending retirements loom.
- Pick order late in Round 1 (31–32) remains contingent on the Super Bowl LX result, keeping the very end of the board fluid.
Background
The mock appears after the deadline for underclassmen to enter the 2026 NFL Draft, marking the formal start of the evaluation season. Jeremiah blends tape study with what he’s hearing around the league to construct projections; he notes his Top 50 prospect rankings will follow as he continues evaluations. The evaluation window still includes the Panini Senior Bowl, East-West Shrine Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine, events that commonly shift draft stock.
Scout consensus has identified a class with fewer blue-chip, franchise-altering prospects than some recent years but with stronger depth at several key positions. Teams facing imminent free-agent floater at spots like center or guard (notably in Baltimore) and clubs with aging offensive linemen are expected to value blocking prospects higher than in prior mocks. Meanwhile, groups of edge rushers and receivers offer clubs multiple paths to upgrade pass rush and passing game weaponry.
Main event
Jeremiah’s top projection puts Mendoza — the quarterback who led Indiana to its first national title — at No. 1 to Las Vegas. The mock emphasizes Mendoza’s red-zone efficiency (39 TDs, zero red-zone INTs since 2024) as a decisive trait for a franchise seeking an immediate difference-maker under center. That combination of production and championship pedigree, Jeremiah argues, makes Mendoza a rare, can’t-miss profile at the very top.
At No. 2, the Jets are slotted to take Reese, a defensive prospect valued for positional versatility and athleticism. Jeremiah writes that Reese’s experience as both an off‑ball linebacker and edge defender at Ohio State makes him an appealing piece for a defense in need of playmakers. The selection reflects both schematic fit and the Jets’ stated defensive priorities.
The Cardinals at No. 3 are projected to add Fano, an offensive lineman capable of lining up at multiple spots (all except center), giving Arizona flexibility as its quarterback situation remains unsettled. Jeremiah frames that pick as one designed to help whoever wins the starting job under center in 2026. Similarly, selections in the top five include Mauigoa (No. 4) for an organization prioritizing better protection and Delane (No. 5) to upgrade a cornerback room.
Mid-first-round choices show a balance of impact defenders and playmaking receivers. Bailey (No. 6) is penciled in to pair with Myles Garrett in Cleveland as a high‑ceiling pass rusher; Styles (No. 7) is compared stylistically to proven linebackers and fits teams planning for veteran departures. The Rams and other offenses with high-end pass catchers are forecast to add complementary receivers to elevate already-productive units.
Later in Round 1, Jeremiah projects a mix of specialty fits and developmental pieces: McCoy (No. 10) as a top cornerback option returning from a 2025 injury, Downs (No. 11) as a versatile defensive backteacher/leader, and Ioane (No. 14) as a guard with arguments to be the draft’s best lineman. The board also places emerging rushers like Mesidor (No. 17) and established position‑versatility players such as Sadiq (No. 27), who could serve as multi-role chess pieces in creative schemes.
Analysis & implications
If the Raiders open the draft with a quarterback, it signals a commitment to stabilizing the position long-term and could prompt ripple effects in trade discussions for veteran QBs. A Mendoza-to-Raiders pick would force teams with marginal quarterback situations into clearer decisions — whether to move up, target developmental alternatives, or pursue veteran stopgaps in free agency.
The mock’s emphasis on offensive line talent in the top 15 reflects a matrix of league-wide needs: teams carrying aging tackles and centers, plus a historical premium on protecting franchise quarterbacks. If several linemen rise early, clubs that waited on interior help will face higher costs to upgrade during free agency or later rounds.
Jeremiah’s board also elevates edge rushers and hybrid defenders, which has strategic implications for offenses building faster-developing pass-protection schemes and quicker-release passing concepts. Teams that miss on elite edge talent may redirect priorities toward offensive tackles and tight ends who chip/slide in protection packages.
Receiver depth in this class could reshape mid-round strategy: teams confident in landing immediate starters may prioritize other immediate needs early and attack the position in Rounds 2–3, knowing there are quality options beyond the top ten. Conversely, clubs that fear losing a specific route‑runner might trade up early, creating movement and volatility in the top 20.
Comparison & data
| Positional count (mock Round 1) | Projected selections |
|---|---|
| Quarterback | 1 |
| Offensive line | 5 |
| Wide receiver | 6 |
| Edge/OLB | 6 |
| Cornerback/Safety | 5 |
| Linebacker/Hybrid | 3 |
The table above summarizes Jeremiah’s positional emphasis in this early mock: notable weight toward edge rushers, receivers and offensive linemen. Those counts reflect projected team needs and the class’s depth profile rather than immutable rankings — combine results and all-star performances could compress or expand these buckets.
Reactions & quotes
“I tend to base my mock drafts on what I’m hearing around the league,”
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network analyst
Jeremiah uses league-sourced intel in conjunction with film study; he underscores that upcoming workouts and team meetings will continue to shift evaluations.
“A lot of clubs are desperate for offensive line help, which could push some blockers up the board,”
League personnel director (on background)
That sourced comment reflects a recurring theme across front offices: O-line scarcity can change draft-day calculus, especially for teams protecting high-investment quarterbacks.
“There’s more depth than top-end blue-chip talent this year — it’s about fit and scheme,”
College scouting analyst
Analysts emphasize scheme fit and developmental trajectory as critical variables when teams evaluate whom to draft early versus whom to let slip into later rounds.
Unconfirmed
- No public confirmation exists on which quarterbacks teams will retain as starters in 2026 — that uncertainty affects who teams view as priorities in the draft.
- How performances at the Senior Bowl and Combine will alter individual prospect rankings remains undetermined and could materially change this board.
- Contract and roster decisions in free agency prior to the draft (including potential veteran departures) could open or close positional needs for several teams.
Bottom line
Jeremiah’s first 2026 mock highlights a class with depth at edge and receiver, alongside an urgent league-wide need for offensive linemen. The projected No. 1 pick of Mendoza to the Raiders underscores a trend where immediate quarterback upgrades remain highly valued when evaluators see high red-zone efficiency and winning pedigree.
Readers should treat this as an early, informed snapshot: as Jeremiah himself notes, results from the Senior Bowl, Shrine Bowl, Combine and free agency will likely move many names. Follow-up rankings and in-depth prospect evaluations are expected as those events conclude and tape study continues.