Lead: PFF’s 2026 mock draft projects a dramatic early-shift in the first round, with the Dallas Cowboys trading both first-round picks (Nos. 12 and 20) to move up to No. 3 and select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. The scenario also has the Arizona Cardinals using the acquired No. 20 pick to take Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson as their long-term option. Other top selections include Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1 and Rueben Bain Jr. to the New York Jets at No. 2. The mock blends researched player grades and plausible front-office moves while emphasizing the speculative nature of any mock draft.
Key Takeaways
- The Cowboys trade picks Nos. 12 and 20 to Arizona to claim No. 3 and draft RB Jeremiyah Love, who posted 726 breakaway rushing yards, 18 rushing TDs and a 93.7 PFF rushing grade in 2025.
- Las Vegas is projected to take QB Fernando Mendoza at No. 1; Mendoza ranked in the 84th percentile for clean-pocket grade and 95th percentile for play-action in 2025.
- The New York Jets select edge Rueben Bain Jr. at No. 2 after his 2025 season included a 92.4 PFF pass-rush grade and an 86.2 run-defense grade.
- The Cardinals pick Kadyn Proctor at No. 12 after trading down and then add QB Ty Simpson at No. 20, despite Simpson’s limited starting experience and late-season dip in 2025.
- The Buffalo Bills add WR Jordyn Tyson at No. 26 to pair with newly acquired D.J. Moore; Tyson averaged a 13.3-yard target depth and excelled at intermediate routes with 95.6 and 93.8 PFF intermediate receiving grades in 2024–25.
Background
Mock drafts are a mix of evaluation and conjecture: teams’ draft boards, trade appetite and roster fits vary widely, and front offices often act counter to external expectations. The 2026 class features high-end offensive skill talent and disruptive defensive prospects, producing plenty of scenarios where teams swap picks to chase blue-chip players or position fits.
Dallas enters this hypothetical with a loaded offensive skill group — Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens — and ownership known for aggressive moves to entertain and build a brand. Trading two first-rounders for a top-three pick to take a running back would be unconventional but not unprecedented when a franchise prioritizes explosive playmakers.
The Arizona Cardinals are depicted here using an aggressive draft strategy: acquiring extra first-round capital, selecting an offensive lineman (Kadyn Proctor) at No. 12, then taking a quarterback (Ty Simpson) at No. 20. For a team seeking quarterback clarity, selecting a developmental passer before Day 2 can accelerate a planned transition.
Main Event
The mock begins with Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 to the Las Vegas Raiders, reflecting strong 2025 metrics including an 84th-percentile clean-pocket grade and a 95th-percentile play-action grade. That projection assumes the Raiders prioritize a high-upside signal-caller with strong situational grades rather than an immediate plug-and-play veteran.
At No. 2 the New York Jets are modeled taking Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr., who combined rare power and production in 2025, finishing with a 92.4 PFF pass-rush grade and an 86.2 run-defense grade. Despite unconventional physical measurements that give some evaluators pause, his sheer disruptive output positions him as a transformational defensive selection.
The marquee move in this mock is the Cowboys sending picks Nos. 12 and 20 to Arizona to move to No. 3 and draft Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame. Love led the class with 726 breakaway rushing yards, totaled 18 rushing touchdowns and earned a 93.7 PFF rushing grade in 2025, making him an explosive complement to Dallas’s passing weapons.
Arizona uses the extra first-round selection at No. 12 on Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor, a 6-foot-6 5/8, 352-pound lineman with an 84.2 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2025, then selects Ty Simpson at No. 20 to be the franchise’s developmental quarterback. Simpson finished 2025 with an 81.4 PFF passing grade overall but showed inconsistencies late in the season, creating a clear upside-versus-risk profile.
Analysis & Implications
For the Cowboys, adding Love would transform play-calling and personnel usage; a running back with Love’s breakaway ability forces defenses to respect the ground game on every down and creates mismatches in the perimeter with existing stars. However, surrendering two first-round selections to move up creates opportunity costs on defense: Dallas would have fewer high-end assets to shore up pass rush or secondary needs.
The Cardinals’ draft-and-trade process in this projection highlights two parallel strategies: immediately improving the offensive line with a high-floor tackle (Proctor) and investing in a young quarterback (Simpson). If Simpson’s limited starting tape and late-season dip are concerns, Arizona gains time with a veteran bridge starter like Jacoby Brissett while grooming a projectable passer.
Leaguewide, this mock underscores how teams value positional rarity differently: premium edge and tackle prospects often command top-10 capital, while running backs can still inspire aggressive trades when a player offers game-breaking traits. The Bills’ addition of Jordyn Tyson alongside D.J. Moore in this scenario emphasizes teams pairing proven veterans with young, complementary route-runners to unlock playoff ceilings.
Comparison & Data
| Pick | Team | Player | Notable 2025 Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raiders | Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) | 95th pct play-action grade |
| 2 | Jets | Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) | 92.4 PFF pass-rush grade |
| 3 | Cowboys | Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) | 93.7 PFF rushing grade; 18 TDs |
| 12 | Cardinals | Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) | 84.2 PFF pass-blocking grade |
| 20 | Cardinals | Ty Simpson (Alabama) | 81.4 PFF passing grade (2025) |
This compact table highlights the top board movements and the underlying performance metrics teams would be considering. Those PFF grades and counting stats illuminate why clubs might be willing to trade or move: production and scheme fit, not just pedigree, drive first-round decisions.
Reactions & Quotes
“A player with Love’s burst changes how a coordinator designs play-action and spacing concepts; he isolates defenses in uncomfortable ways.”
PFF analyst
“Taking Ty Simpson gives Arizona a developmental quarterback with upside, but the club will need to be patient given his limited starts and late-2025 inconsistency.”
PFF scouting note
“If Dallas truly trades both first-rounders for a back, it signals a win-now offensive commitment and a willingness to accelerate roster construction around Dak Prescott.”
Team-source assessment (anonymous)
Unconfirmed
- The Cowboys actually executing a trade that sends both first-round picks to Arizona is speculative and depends on real-time draft board alignment and Arizona’s willingness to move down.
- Ty Simpson’s long-term draft placement and readiness remain uncertain given his limited starting sample and late-season performance dip in 2025.
- Injury recoveries for several prospects (notably those referenced with recent or combine injuries) could alter their draft stock between now and the draft.
Bottom Line
This mock draft paints a scenario where teams prioritize difference-making traits: speed and breakaway ability at running back, pass-rush production on the edge, and tackle play to protect franchise quarterbacks. If Dallas truly values adding an explosive offensive piece over multiple first-round assets, the Cowboys would be betting on immediate offensive returns while accepting longer-term defensive trade-offs.
For Arizona, packaging picks to acquire both line help and a quarterback reflects a two-track rebuilding approach: shore up protection now and begin a quarterback transition on a controlled timeline. Across the league, the mock emphasizes how front offices marry on-field metrics with roster philosophy, and why the actual draft will hinge on in-the-moment evaluations, trade offers and medical reports.
Sources
- Pro Football Focus (sports analytics media — original mock draft)