2026 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Post-Combine Risers, Fallout from Kyler's Exit, and Why Bryce Young Has Everyone Talking Again
The NFL Scouting Combine is officially done and dusted, and for the first time since the Super Bowl, the 2026 NFL Draft order feels like it's got some real shape. We know who's picking where. We know the desperate teams fighting it out at the top. But after a week in Indianapolis that saw workout warriors skyrocket and franchise quarterbacks shown the door, the entire first-round projection has been turned on its head. Let's break down the new lay of the land, from the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1 all the way down to Mr. Irrelevant.
The Top 5 is Locked In, But the Names Are Shifting
The draft order right at the top is set in stone, and it's a goldmine of team needs. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the keys to the kingdom at No. 1, and after watching Fernando Mendoza measure in at a rock-solid 6-foot-5 and 236 pounds in Indy, the idea of them snapping up the Indiana quarterback feels like a done deal. He's got the arm, the mobility, and the build. Unless someone backs up a Brinks truck for this pick, expect Mendoza to be the new face of the franchise in Vegas.
Right behind them, the New York Jets at No. 2 and the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3 are in fascinating positions. The Jets are tearing it all down to the bare bones and have four picks in the top 50. They need help everywhere, but after Arvell Reese tore up the Combine looking like a heat-seeking missile, pairing the Ohio State linebacker with Aaron Glenn's new defensive system in New York just makes perfect sense.
The Kyler Murray Bombshell
Speaking of the Cardinals, the big question hanging over the club in Glendale has finally been answered. Arizona exhausted every possible trade option for Kyler Murray at the Combine, but as word came down from the team facility, there were simply no takers for that contract. They had to bite the bullet and release him. It's the end of an era that promised so much but ultimately delivered frustration.
Now sitting at No. 3, the Cardinals are suddenly the wildcard of the draft. Do they reach for a QB like Ty Simpson, or do they go with the best player available? Most mock draft gurus I rate are slotting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love here, and honestly, after Love scorched the turf with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, he looks like the most explosive weapon in this year's crop. Pairing him with James Conner (if he sticks around) gives whoever ends up under center a real fighting chance. And in a twist that feels like a Hollywood script, the A's have just left the door wide open for Kyler to make a comeback to baseball. Don't bet against him exploring that option, but for now, his next NFL stop—whether it's with the Jets, Dolphins, or Raiders as a veteran backup—is the story of the off-season.
- Pick 1 (LV): Fernando Mendoza, QB – The safe, smart choice.
- Pick 2 (NYJ): Arvell Reese, LB – The new defensive anchor.
- Pick 3 (ARI): Jeremiyah Love, RB – The game-breaker to ignite the offence.
- Pick 4 (TEN): Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE – A relentless pass rusher for a defensive-minded coach.
- Pick 5 (NYG): Caleb Downs, S – The best pure safety in years; a quarterback for the secondary.
Post-Combine Risers: The Freaks Are Climbing the Board
If you missed the drills in Indianapolis, you missed some serious stock surges for a few key names. Sonny Styles from Ohio State is the talk of the town. At 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds, he moved like a cornerback. He shot up draft boards so fast that he's now a lock for the top 10, with the New Orleans Saints at No. 8 looking like the perfect spot for him to learn from the great Demario Davis.
Then there's the big boys in the trenches. Monroe Freeling from Georgia cemented his status as the top offensive tackle prospect with a dominant showing, and you can bet the Chicago Bears at No. 25 are praying he slides down to them to help protect Caleb Williams. On the defensive side, Caleb Banks from Florida was an absolute wrecking ball during drills, locking in his place as the premier defensive tackle and a perfect fit for a Baltimore Ravens team at No. 14 that is desperate for some interior disruption.
The Bryce Young Redemption Story and the Wild Card Hangover
You can't talk about the draft order without talking about the quarterbacks already tearing it up in the league. Remember when everyone had written off Bryce Young? Yeah, about that. Down the stretch of the 2025 season, and especially in that heartbreaking Wild Card loss to the Rams, Young showed us something we hadn't seen before: sudden, electrifying playmaking ability.
He started using his legs, scrambling for first downs, and buying time. In Week 17 against the Cardinals, he ran for a career-high 68 yards and a touchdown. The moment wasn't too big for him in the playoffs—he put the team on his back and nearly stole the game from Matthew Stafford. Because of that late surge, the Panthers (picking at No. 19) are in a weird spot. They don't need a QB. They need to build around him. That means grabbing a guard like Olaivavega Ioane or a linebacker like C.J. Allen to fix that run defence that got shredded last year.
On the flip side, you have to feel for Justin Tucker. It's been a brutal year for the Ravens' legend, and while the front office won't say it publicly, missing that consistency makes you wonder if they'll look for a late-round kicker to bring in for some competition. It's the ugly side of the business, but if Tucker doesn't bounce back, Baltimore might have a special teams headache on top of their pass rush issues.
Final Thoughts on the First Round
This draft class is deep, but it's not top-heavy with can't-miss QBs. That means the teams in the 2026 NFL Draft order between picks 5 and 15—places like Cleveland, New Orleans, and Cincinnati—are going to be fighting tooth and nail over the blue-chip skill players and pass rushers. The Combine has solidified the athletic pecking order. Now it's all about scheme fits and pro days.
One thing is certain: By the time we roll into Pittsburgh in April, the big board is going to look a whole lot different than it does today. Buckle up.