Draft season doesn't wait for the Super Bowl anymore. If you've been refreshing your feed looking for the latest nfl com nfl mock draft, you already know the buzz is different this year. It's January 2026. The College Football Playoff is a whirlwind, and the NFL landscape just shifted under our feet with Pete Carroll’s short-lived Vegas experiment ending in a total rebuild.
Honestly, the mock draft community is in a bit of a frenzy. We are seeing names at the top of the board that weren't even on the radar twelve months ago. It's not just about who’s going first; it’s about how the entire philosophy of the first round is changing right in front of us.
The Fernando Mendoza Surge and the Raiders' Dilemma
For months, the debate was all about Dante Moore. Then Fernando Mendoza happened. The Indiana signal-caller didn't just win the Heisman; he basically dismantled the "system QB" narrative by carving up the best defenses in the country. Now, as we look at the projected nfl com nfl mock draft order, the Las Vegas Raiders are sitting at No. 1 with a massive decision to make.
Most experts, including Bucky Brooks and Daniel Jeremiah, seem to agree: if you have the top pick and no quarterback, you don't overthink it. Mendoza is the guy. He’s got that lightning-quick release and the poise that makes scouts drool. But here’s the kicker—the Jets are sitting at No. 2, and they are arguably even more desperate.
Why the Quarterback Class is Shifting
- Fernando Mendoza (Indiana): The clear QB1 after a 41-touchdown season. His 133.2 passer rating is the kind of stat that gets GMs promoted.
- Dante Moore (Oregon): He’s the wildcard. There’s a lot of chatter about him potentially returning to Eugene for another NIL payday, which would absolutely wreck every mock draft currently on the internet.
- Ty Simpson (Alabama): A steady riser who is currently projected to go mid-to-late first round, possibly to a team like the Steelers who are looking to reset after the Mike Tomlin era.
If Moore stays in school, the top of the draft becomes a defensive free-for-all. You’d see teams like the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans pivot immediately to the monsters on the edge.
Defense is Taking Over the Top Five
We’ve spent so much time talking about the QBs that people are sleeping on just how elite the defensive talent is this year. Arvell Reese out of Ohio State is the name you need to know. He’s not just a linebacker; he’s a "versatility weapon." Think Micah Parsons but maybe even more explosive coming downhill.
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In many nfl com nfl mock draft iterations, Reese is a lock for the top three. The Cardinals need a culture setter, and Reese is exactly that. Then you have Rueben Bain Jr. from Miami. There was some noise about his arm length earlier in the season, but honestly? His tape from the playoffs silenced everyone. He’s a wrecking ball.
The New York Giants are in a weird spot too. They spent big on Jaxson Dart last year, and now they need to protect him—or give him more toys. While some mocks have them taking a lineman like Francis Mauigoa, the smart money is on Carnell Tate. Pairing Tate with Malik Nabers would give the Giants one of the most terrifying young receiving corps in the league.
The Disappearing Running Back Value? Not So Fast
Every year, someone says the running back is dead. Then a guy like Jeremiyah Love comes along and everyone remembers why they love football. The Notre Dame star is projected as high as No. 3 to Arizona in some spots. He’s 215 pounds of pure acceleration.
It’s rare to see a back go that high in the modern era, but Love is a different breed. He catches the ball like a wideout and runs between the tackles like a traditional power back. If the Cardinals pass on him, don’t expect him to slide past the Chiefs or Cowboys. Teams are starting to realize that an elite playmaker is worth more than a "positional value" reach for a mediocre tackle.
Real Talk on the Draft Order
The current bottom-dwellers—Raiders, Jets, Cardinals, Titans—all have massive holes. But the Jets are the ones to watch. They have five first-round picks over the next two years. That is an absurd amount of capital. They could literally own the 2026 draft if they play their cards right.
What Most People Get Wrong About Mock Drafts
The biggest mistake fans make is treating a mock draft like a prediction of what will happen. It’s not. A good nfl com nfl mock draft is a snapshot of the current value and needs.
GMs aren't looking at these mocks to see who they should take; they're looking at them to see where the "runs" on positions might happen. If there's a run on edge rushers in the mid-teens, a team like the Ravens might jump up to grab Keldric Faulk before he’s gone. It’s a game of musical chairs played with millions of dollars.
Actionable Insights for Draft Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve this draft season, stop just looking at the names and start looking at the schemes.
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- Watch the Coaching Hires: The Raiders and Cardinals are likely looking for new leadership. A defensive-minded coach in Arizona almost guarantees they take Arvell Reese or Rueben Bain Jr.
- Monitor the Underclassmen Tracker: The January 15 deadline for underclassmen to declare is the "real" start of draft season. If Dante Moore stays at Oregon, the QB market enters a state of emergency.
- Pay Attention to the Senior Bowl: This is where Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks get their best intel. If a guy like David Bailey (Texas Tech) dominates in Mobile, he’s going top ten.
The 2026 NFL Draft is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. Between the Indiana Hoosiers' rise to the top of the college world and the total collapse of some AFC powerhouses, the board is anything but settled. Keep an eye on those NIL announcements—they might just be more important than the 40-yard dash this year.
Check the latest updates on the NFL Scouting Combine drills next month to see which of these projections hold water. The physical testing usually sorts the "tape guys" from the "elite athletes," and that's when the real movement begins.