{"id":14245,"date":"2026-01-12T18:04:26","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T18:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/mendoza-love-mock-draft-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T18:04:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T18:04:26","slug":"mendoza-love-mock-draft-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/mendoza-love-mock-draft-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 NFL Mock Draft: Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1 overall, Jeremiyah Love to the Kansas City Chiefs &#8211; PFF"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>In PFF\u2019s updated 2026 mock draft, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is projected to go No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, while Notre Dame workhorse Jeremiyah Love is slotted at No. 9 to the Kansas City Chiefs. The mock reflects the post\u2011season landscape as college football moves past conference and title games and NFL teams finalize roster priorities ahead of the draft. Mendoza\u2019s 41 passing touchdowns and a 133.2 NFL passer rating this season underpin his top prospect status, and Love\u2019s elite grades \u2014 including a nation\u2011leading 93.1 PFF grade this season \u2014 explain the Chiefs\u2019 selection. The projection balances team needs, free\u2011agent exposure at key positions and measurable production from the 2025 college season.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The Las Vegas Raiders are projected to use the No. 1 pick on Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, who finished with 41 passing TDs and a 133.2 NFL passer rating this season.<\/li>\n<li>The New York Jets, at No. 2, are modeled to take Oregon QB Dante Moore, who posted a 90.3 PFF passing grade and 30 big\u2011time throws in 2025.<\/li>\n<li>Ohio State LB Arvell Reese is mocked at No. 3 to Arizona after recording eight sacks and an 86.5 PFF run\u2011defense grade this year.<\/li>\n<li>Miami\u2019s Rueben Bain Jr. is projected to land at No. 4 (Tennessee) with a 93.1 PFF defensive grade and 80 pressures in 2025.<\/li>\n<li>Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love is forecasted to go No. 9 to the Kansas City Chiefs after a 91.1 PFF grade in 2023 and a nation\u2011leading 93.1 this season.<\/li>\n<li>Other first\u2011round standouts include Texas Tech\u2019s David Bailey (15 sacks, 81 pressures) and USC\u2019s Makai Lemon (90.8 PFF receiver grade).<\/li>\n<li>The mock emphasizes teams addressing immediate needs: offensive line upgrades for the Rams and Browns, secondary help for Miami and Seattle, and pass\u2011rush additions for several clubs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>With the college season winding down and the NFL entering divisional playoff rounds, draft evaluators are integrating final game film, combine projections and roster turnover into positional valuations. Several NFL teams face impending free\u2011agent departures: the Chiefs could lose Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco, while other franchises have multiple starters nearing free agency or retirement. Those personnel pressures are a major driver behind the mock\u2019s selections, particularly at running back and offensive line.<\/p>\n<p>Analytic grading from Pro Football Focus (PFF) is central to the mock\u2019s rankings: grades and advanced metrics are used to compare prospects across systems and competition levels. Historic precedents \u2014 such as offenses prioritizing franchise quarterbacks or teams drafting for scheme fit on the defensive front \u2014 also shape the order. The mock intentionally blends production (touchdowns, sacks, pressures) with graded traits (pass\u2011rush grade, run\u2011defense grade) to mirror how many NFL front offices evaluate prospects today.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>The headline projection is Mendoza to the Raiders at No. 1. Mendoza\u2019s Heisman season includes 41 touchdown passes and an NFL\u2011style passer rating of 133.2, statistics that make him an obvious top\u2011of\u2011board candidate if teams buying a quarterback are prioritizing immediate production. Las Vegas, having turned over coaching and quarterback room personnel after a single season under Pete Carroll and Geno Smith, is modeled here as selecting a ready QB to pair with a new coach.<\/p>\n<p>At No. 2, the mock sends Dante Moore to the New York Jets should he declare. Moore posted a 90.3 PFF passing grade and tied for the nation lead with 30 big\u2011time throws in the season, data points that support a top\u2011two selection if a clean medical and interview process follows. The Arizona Cardinals are modeled to pivot to defense at No. 3, selecting Ohio State\u2019s Arvell Reese to strengthen a front seven that needed consistent downhill play.<\/p>\n<p>Other notable first\u2011round placements include Rueben Bain Jr. to Tennessee at No. 4 \u2014 a player graded 93.1 by PFF with 80 pressures \u2014 and Carnell Tate to the New York Giants at No. 5 to give Jaxson Dart a true outside X target. The Chiefs\u2019 pick at No. 9 for Jeremiyah Love reflects both Love\u2019s elite college grades and Kansas City\u2019s potential backfield turnover with Hunt and Pacheco entering free agency.<\/p>\n<p>The rest of the first round in this projection mixes players who fill clear team gaps: interior and edge defenders for clubs with weak front sevens, offensive tackles for line\u2011scarce teams, and a handful of perimeter weapons for offenses needing Y\u2011and\u2011X threats. Several selections are explicitly tied to recorded PFF grades and counting statistics from the 2025 college season to make the logic transparent.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Quarterback valuation dominates the very top of this mock because of Mendoza and Moore\u2019s statistical resumes. Mendoza\u2019s 133.2 passer rating and 41 TDs show a high level of efficiency and scoring production; evaluators will balance that film with measurements, schematic fit and interviews. If Mendoza goes first, the Raiders would signal a preference for a polished, pro\u2011style passer who can be plugged into an NFL offense rapidly rather than a longer developmental prospect.<\/p>\n<p>A running back like Jeremiyah Love projecting to the top 10 is notable in today\u2019s market and reflects shifting team priorities when a club faces imminent departures at the position. Love\u2019s sustained PFF excellence \u2014 91.1 as a sophomore and a nation\u2011leading 93.1 in 2025 \u2014 argues for a premium pick if a team believes a workhorse back still offers game\u2011changing value in a specific offensive scheme.<\/p>\n<p>The mock also underscores how pass\u2011rush and interior defensive line prospects remain premium assets. Players such as David Bailey (15 sacks, 81 pressures) and Kayden McDonald (91.2 run\u2011defense grade) are projected to be early selections because their production maps directly to addressing weaknesses that many NFL teams still prioritize: pressure generation and interior run stuffing. For playoff\u2011contending teams, adding a high\u2011grade defender can be a one\u2011pick\u2011turn catalyst.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, offensive line and secondary picks in the late first round reflect the league\u2019s emphasis on protecting franchise quarterbacks and bolstering coverage against increasingly dynamic passing attacks. Prospects with balanced pass\u2011 and run\u2011blocking grades at tackle or interior line positions tend to climb boards in this mock, consistent with recent draft trends that reward versatility.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Prospect<\/th>\n<th>Primary Stat Highlights<\/th>\n<th>PFF Grade (noted season)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)<\/td>\n<td>41 passing TDs; 133.2 NFL passer rating<\/td>\n<td>\u2014 (Heisman season highlighted)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Dante Moore (Oregon)<\/td>\n<td>30 big\u2011time throws<\/td>\n<td>90.3 passing grade (2025)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame)<\/td>\n<td>Nation\u2011leading 93.1 PFF grade (2025)<\/td>\n<td>93.1 (2025); 91.1 (2023)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The table isolates a few headline comparisons to clarify why these prospects project where they do: Mendoza\u2019s touchdown production and passer rating illustrate finishing ability; Moore\u2019s big\u2011time throws quantify playmaking; Love\u2019s high PFF grades show consistent elite evaluation across seasons. Teams weighing these players will also add medical checks, interviews and scheme fit to the listed metrics.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cMendoza\u2019s season tape and counting stats place him at the top of many boards \u2014 he\u2019s a ready\u2011to\u2011play passer with big\u2011time production.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>PFF draft analysis<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cSelecting a bell\u2011cow running back high in the first round signals a belief that the position can still be a foundational piece in an offense.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>Draft strategist commentary (analysis)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cIf Kansas City loses one of its veteran backs, taking Love would address both immediate need and long\u2011term upside in the run game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>Roster\/needs assessment (team analyst)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: How PFF grades and counting stats inform mock boards<\/summary>\n<p>PFF grades combine play\u2011by\u2011play evaluation and context to generate coverage, pass\u2011rush, run\u2011defense and overall marks for prospects. Counting stats (e.g., sacks, pressures, touchdown passes) represent production that can be compared across competition. Teams often use both: grades for trait evaluation and counting stats to verify consistent impact. Combine results, medicals and interviews still alter final draft decisions.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The Raiders\u2019 final head\u2011coach hire and detailed offensive scheme that would determine Mendoza\u2019s fit remain undetermined and could change draft priorities.<\/li>\n<li>The Jets\u2019 reported leaning between Mendoza and Moore is speculative until either quarterback officially declares and completes pre\u2011draft medicals and interviews.<\/li>\n<li>Chiefs\u2019 internal plans for Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco (whether to re\u2011sign or decline) are in flux and may alter the likelihood of drafting a running back at No. 9.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>PFF\u2019s projection places premium value on ready\u2011to\u2011play quarterbacks and high\u2011grade producers who can immediately fill roster holes. Mendoza\u2019s statistical season and Heisman recognition make him a logical No. 1 in scenarios where teams prioritize pro\u2011style passing production. Jeremiyah Love\u2019s back\u2011to\u2011back elite grades create a plausible path to the top 10, especially for a Chiefs roster facing potential turnover in its backfield.<\/p>\n<p>As with any mock conducted before combine and pro\u2011day results, the order is a transparent blend of measurable production and team needs that will shift as clubs complete pre\u2011draft evaluations. Prospects\u2019 medicals, interviews and scheme fit will ultimately determine whether these projections hold on draft night.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/news\/draft-2026-nfl-mock-draft-fernando-mendoza-goes-no-1-overall-jeremiyah-love-to-the-kansas-city-chiefs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pro Football Focus (PFF)<\/a> \u2014 analytics media (original mock draft)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heisman.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Heisman Trophy<\/a> \u2014 official organization (award confirmation)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncaa.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NCAA<\/a> \u2014 official college athletics statistics and game logs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In PFF\u2019s updated 2026 mock draft, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is projected to go No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, while Notre Dame workhorse Jeremiyah Love is slotted at No. 9 to the Kansas City Chiefs. The mock reflects the post\u2011season landscape as college football moves past conference and title games and &#8230; <a title=\"2026 NFL Mock Draft: Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1 overall, Jeremiyah Love to the Kansas City Chiefs &#8211; PFF\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/mendoza-love-mock-draft-2026\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1 overall, Jeremiyah Love to the Kansas City Chiefs &#8211; PFF\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14242,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"2026 NFL Mock Draft: Mendoza No.1, Love to Chiefs \u2014 PFF","rank_math_description":"PFF projects Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza No.1 to the Raiders and Notre Dame\u2019s Jeremiyah Love to the Chiefs at No.9, with full analysis, data and reactions.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiyah Love, 2026 NFL Draft, mock draft, Kansas City Chiefs","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14245","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14245"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14245\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14242"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14245"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14245"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14245"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}