See Mike D's mock NFL draft and 2026 player rankings

Hear Mike's draft notebook daily on WWL and Audacy.

Scroll below for Mike D's first round mock draft as well as rankings for the top 92 players.

Each listing in the mock draft also includes Mike D's breakdown for that player, as well as where they land in his rankings for the top 28 players in the 2026 draft. If a player is listed without a breakdown, that means the player fell outside of that top 28 list.

1. Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
   - Mike D's take: The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner has excellent size, he is very accurate, excels in the intermediate passing phase of the game and his ability to process what is open downfield is at a very high level. Fernando has superb leadership skills and he is a super intelligent young man. Mendoza has better mobility and running skills than people give him credit for. Very similar to Jared Goff (Detroit Lions) when he came out of California.
   - Mike's player rankings: No. 1
2. Jets: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
   - Mike D's take: Arvell has excellent size (6’4”, 242 pounds) and he is a freak of an athlete-who has just scratched the surface of his skillset. Has played mostly as an off-ball LB. at Ohio State, but I really believe in the NFL, he will be an edge rusher. Reese has phenomenal foot speed and quickness off the snap and 1st rate trail-down skills in pursuit. His closing speed to the ballcarrier is just outstanding.
   - Mike's player rankings: No. 2
   
3. Cardinals: David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech
   - Mike D's take: Former Stanford University standout who developed into one of the most feared defensive players in college football in 2025 at Texas Tech. Explosive edge-rusher, who has a top-of-the-line initial burst off the snap. He has really improved on his ability to get off would-be blockers, and his closing speed to the QB. and ballcarrier is eye-catching. Super instinctive player and a good openfield tackler. Recorded 52 tackles, 19 ½ tackles for losses and 14 ½ QB. sacks in 2025 despite being double-teamed quite often. Speed and explosive traits highlight his overall game.
   - Mike's player rankings: No. 7
4. Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
   - Mike D's take: Love might go lower than his ranking on my board due to the devaluation of the position, but he is a playmaker at the highest level due to his power, speed, vision and he is a terrific receiver coming out of the backfield. In many aspects he reminds me so much of Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons) when he came out of Texas. Jeremiyah averaged 6.7 yards per rush at Notre Dame, scoring 35 TD’s over the past 2 seasons and he caught 55 passes coming out of the backfield for the Irish in that 2-year timeframe.
   - Mike's player rankings: No. 3
5. Giants: Sonny Styles, LB, Alabama
   - Mike D's take: Five-star recruit coming out of Pickerington Central High School in Ohio. Has some strong football genetics with his dad, Lorenzo-playing in the NFL (Falcons and Rams) and his brother is Ohio State cornerback Lorenzo Styles. Started out his college career at safety before moving to linebacker. Styles has excellent size (6-4 ½, 245) and he is a sure openfield tackler. Excels at getting off would-be blockers with his hand usage and seemingly always in the middle of the action. He is also fluid enough to drop back smoothly in his coverage areas. Alex has totaled 182 tackles and 17 tackles for losses the past two seasons for the Buckeyes.
   - Mike's player rankings: No. 14
6. Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
   - Mike D's take: Carnell was a 5-star recruit coming out of IMG Academy in Florida. Tate has been overshadowed due to the exploits of Jeremiah Smith at Ohio State, but he is a very good WR. prospect. Carnell has good size, he catches the ball well out-front with his hands and he has some real scoot after the reception. Well-schooled end who has caught 103 passes for 1,608 yards and scored 13 TD’s over the past 2 seasons. Tate has really improved his route running skills during his timeframe at Ohio State and the Buckeye coaches tell me he is super coachable, focused, very smart and he’s a good downfield blocker.
   - Mike's player rankings: No. 8
7. Commanders: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
   - Mike D's take: Downs is one hell of a football player. Caleb was the SEC Freshman of the Year at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State. Downs has strong football genetics with his dad, brother and uncle playing major college football, and his brother and uncle played in the NFL. Instinctive player, super smart, rarely out of position and he comes up the seam fast in run support. Excellent openfield tackler and he has really upgraded his pass coverage skills, he is versatile in coverage schemes and his ball trackdown skills are very good.. Like Love, Caleb may not go as high as he is rated, but which ever team drafts him gets an immediate impact performer on defense.
   - Mike's player ranking: No. 4
8. Saints: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
   - Mike D's take: Delane, a Virginia Tech transfer portal player, turned into the ultimate college shutdown cornerback for the Tigers. Outstanding technician, who mirrors WR’s downfield and he can plant and drive hard to the football. Mansoor has excellent ball reaction skills, teams rarely tested him after the first few games and plays the ball like a wide receiver. Delane is a very good athlete and he knows how to time his leaps so well to deflect the ball away from the wide receiver.
   - Mike's player rankings: No. 12
9. Chiefs: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
   - Mike D's take: The top-rated prep football player in the state of Idaho had a host of offers, but he decided to play for Oregon. Kenyon saw action as a true freshman for the Ducks, but he sat patiently behind some really talented TE’s at Oregon. But over the past two seasons Sadiq has caught 70 passes for 839 yards and 10 TD’s. The talented 6-3, 242 pound tight end really came on strong in 2025 as both a receiver and as an inline blocker. Kenyon has excellent foot speed and he can really stretch the inside areas of the field due to his big-play skills and sure hands.
   - Mike's player rankings: No. 18
10. Bengals: Rueben Bain, DE, Miami
    - Mike D's take: Bain really pieced together a disruptive 2025 season totaling 45 tackles, 13 tackles for losses and 8 ½ QB. sacks. Rueben is a power player at the point of attack and he is a well-schooled technician. Knows how to use his arms and hands to get off blockers and his closing speed to the ballcarrier is 1st rate. Turns lower-body power into speed and fast. Very focused young man, who can take over a game due to his athletic skills and pass rush ability. He also has some flex versatility to kick inside in certain down and distance situations.
    - Mike's player rankings: No. 5
11. Dolphins: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
    - Mike D's take: Mammoth right tackle prospect (6-5 ¾, 320 pounds) who is aggressive, strong, delivers a super powerful shot at the point of attack and he is a full fledge mauler in the running game. Comes off the snap quickly and he gets excellent movement of his opponent off the line as a run blocker. He is a good athlete who plays on balance as a pass blocker and he has improved in his pass protection skills with his arm and hand usage.
    - Mike's player rankings: No. 6
12. Cowboys: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
    - Mike D's take: Former Oregon State performer who transferred to Tennessee earning 1st team All-SEC accolades in 2024. Jermod missed the entire 2025 season after suffering a torn ACL while he was training in January of 2025. Jermod is a good-size cornerback with excellent foot speed and ball trackdown skills. Excelled in catching up and adjusting quickly to the ball in flight. Had 4 pass interceptions and 9 pass deflections in 2024. Solid as an openfield tackler. Where he goes in the 1st round will depend on his rehab from the knee injury, but McCoy really looked like a top-flight cover performer in 2024.
    - Mike's player rankings: No. 15
13. Rams (via Falcons): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
    - Mike D's take: Dynamite wide-out who excels from both the slot and outside. Lemon is a dynamite receiver who has excellent acceleration after the catch and he is a sure-handed downfield target. Makai is an outstanding route runner and so smooth into and out of his cuts and breaks. Lemon was a unanimous All-American and the winner of the Biletnikoff Award in 2025 catching 79 passes for 1,156 yards, averaged 14.6 yards per catch and 11 touchdown catches. Makai also is a good kickoff return man. Playmaker at the highest level.
    - Mike's player rankings: No. 10
14. Ravens: Spencer Fano, OT/G, Utah
    - Mike D's take: Fano, the 6-5 ¼, 310 pound tackle, has started 35 games for Utah, (11 at left tackle and 24 at right tackle). Fano was the 2025 Outland Trophy winner, was the Big-12 Offensive Lineman of the Year and a unanimous All-American this past season. Spencer plays the game on balance, he squares up quickly to block his opponent and he plays with a good mixture of power and quickness. Moves his feet well and is agile to adjust to moves and countermoves of his opponent. Spencer is a tough guy and he never lets up on his block.
    - Mike's player rankings: No. 13
15. Bucs: Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
    - Mike D's take: Keldric was a five-star recruit coming out of Highland Home High School in Alabama. Hybrid performer (6-5 ½, 285 pounds) who has been used as a standout OLB. and along the defensive line as an end. Flashes an explosive nature off the snap and excellent foot speed and quickness. Needs to learn how to become a better technician and use his arms and hands better at the point of attack to get off blockers. Runs the field well and he has learned how to play lower and defend the run much better. Has totaled 19 ½ tackles for losses and 10 QB. sacks at Auburn, but you feel he will go high due to his potential as a pass rusher. Faulk won’t turn 21 years old until September 7th.
    - Mike's player rankings: No. 16
16. Jets (via Colts): Omar Cooper Jr, WR, Indiana
17. Lions: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
18. Vikings: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
19. Panthers: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
    - Mike D's take: If not for a series of injuries and a major knee surgery in 2023 when he was at Colorado, Tyson would get a higher NFL grade. Jordyn is a superb route runner and he comes out of his cuts and breaks with ease. Sure-handed receiver who will go over the middle for a tough catch and he is explosive with the ball in his hands after the catch. Reminds me a lot of Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka when he came out of Ohio State. Has caught 136 passes for 1,812 yards and 18 TD’s over the past 2 seasons despite fighting off leg injuries. Very talented receiver who is a 1st rate route-runner, but health concerns may drop him a little.
    - Mike's player rankings: No. 9
20. Cowboys (via Packers): Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami
21. Steelers: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
    - Mike D's take: Had thrown a grand total of 50 passes in 3 seasons at Alabama before becoming the fulltime starter in 2025. Ty is a super smart, very smooth passer who really knows how to work the short to intermediate part of the game. Accurate and throws a very catchable ball. Completed 63.9 % of his passes for 3,948 yards, 28 TD’s and only 5 pass interceptions in 2025. Quick processing signal-caller who was very successful in his 1st year as a starter despite not having much starting time and the Tide running game was average at best.
    - Mike's player rankings: No. 26
22. Chargers: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
    - Mike D's take: The 6-4, 330 pound Ioane left the Pacific Northwest of Washington to play for Penn State. The powerhouse guard has not given up a QB. sack over the past two seasons for the Nittany Lions. He started 32 games for Penn State and he is a power driven run blocker and he gets good movement with his drive blocks. Has really gotten better with his overall techniques and hand-usage as a pass protector over the past two seasons. Still needs some development as a technician with his foot work and hand-placement, but Vega is a force inside along the offensive line.
    - Mike's player rankings: No. 22
23. Eagles: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
24. Browns (via Jaguars): Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
25. Bears: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
26. Bills: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
    - Mike D's take: King-sized wide receiver (6-3 ¾, 210) who really blossomed into a big time college player over the past two seasons. Boston has caught 125 passes for 1,715, averaged 13.7 yards per catch and scored 20 TD’s over the past two seasons. Knows how to use his big frame, wide widespan and strength to win contested throws downfield. Excellent runner after the catch and he’s a load to bring down in the open field. Boston has improved his route running skills and quickly getting into and out of his cuts and breaks as a WR..
    - Mike's player rankings: No. 23
27. 49ers: Caleb Lomu, OT/G, Utah
    - Mike D's take: Lomu has started at left tackle 22 games over the past two seasons at Utah. Really shows 1st rate technical skills and the ability to use his arms and hands in pass protection sets. Lomu plays the game on balance and he is a good leverage player. Lomu does a good job steering defenders to the outside on passing plays. Caleb is a good run blocker, but with better overall strength added to his game the 6-5, 305 pounder has a chance to become a starter at left tackle in the NFL quickly.
    - Mike's player rankings: No. 20
28. Texans: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
29. Chiefs (via Rams): Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
30. Dolphins (via Broncos): KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
    - Mike D's take: Kevin was a highly sought-after WR./return man when he came out of Julius L. Chambers High School in North Carolina and he signed on with North Carolina State. KC was an explosive end at NC State catching 124 passes and he scored 16 TD’s his first two seasons for NC State. Left NC State and transferred to Texas A&M and had a spectacular 2025 season catching 61 passes for 919 yards, averaged 15.1 yards per catch and scored 9 TD’s. He also averaged 18.2 yards per punt return and ran back 2 for TD’s as a junior. Concepcion earned 1st team All-SEC and 1st team All-American honors last season. Was also the winner of the Paul Hornung Award as the most versatile player in college football. Super quick end, who has 1st rate route running skills and he is some elusive in space. KC also has tremendous eye-hand coordination and he times his leaps just right to make the tough catch look easy.
    - Mike's player rankings: No. 28
31. Patriots: TJ Parker, edge, Clemson
32. Seahawks: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
    - Mike D's take: Former QB., wide receiver and halfback in high school and Hood excelled in the secondary also. Signed on with Auburn and played one season there before transferring to Colorado. Colton transferred again after the 2024 season and developed into a top-flight cornerback at Tennessee. The 5-11 ¾, 200 pound cornerback was in on 50 tackles, 4 ½ tackles for losses and had 1 pass interception in 2025. Very smooth cover man who is quick in the hips, he adjusts well to WR. moves and he finds the football quickly in flight. Plants and drives hard to the football and he is a good openfield tackler in run support.
    - Mike's player rankings: 27

Here are the players in Mike's top 28 that he has projected to fall out of the first round:

Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
- Mike's player rankings: No. 17
- Mike D's take: The 6-2 ½, 255 pounder originally started his college career at Bowling Green. Turned into a devastating edge performer for the Aggies in 2025. The 2025 SEC Defensive Player of the Year registering 31 tackles, 14 tackles for losses, 11 ½ QB. sacks and 6 pass defensed plays. Explosive player coming off the edge and he has 1st rate closing speed to the ballcarrier or QB.. Very instinctive player who’s head tells the body what to do in a quick manner. Heat seeking-missile out on the field defensively.

Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
- Mike's player rankings: No. 19
- Mike D's take: McDonald was a highly recruited DT. coming out of North Gwinnett High School in Georgia. In 2025 McDaniel was a unanimous All-American and the Big-Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year. The 6-2 ½, 330 pounder is the definition of a run stuffer inside and occupying two blockers. Excellent technician who knows how to use his arms and hands well to get off blockers and get good interior push. Kayden is not a great interior pass rusher, but he gets a good inside push and destroys the launch-pad of an opposing passer.

Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
- Mike's player rankings: No. 21
- Mike D's take: Caleb is a massive interior player (6-5 ½, 330 pounder) who started out his college career at Louisville before transferring to Florida. Banks has been nicked up in college injury wise, but when he is healthy he is a major force inside. Banks has a huge wingspan, clogs up the inside rushing lanes and he is so athletic for a big man. Does a really job of pushing the inside pocket to gain pressure and penetration.

Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
- Mike's player rankings: No. 24
- Mike D's take: Zachariah was one of the most electrifying players in college football over the past three seasons. Started out his college career at USC before transferring to Georgia in 2025. Super quick end, who has track sprinter’s speed, he is elusive and one tough guy out on the field despite not being a big receiver. So smooth to come out of his cuts and breaks and he’s a homerun hitter every time he touches the ball. Caught 81 passes for the Bulldogs in 2025. Branch also averaged 13.3 yards per punt return in college and 19.3 yards per return as a kickoff specialist. Playmaker!!!!

Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
- Mike's player rankings: No. 25
- Mike D's take: Miller is still developing as an overall interior defensive lineman, but he is a very gifted run stuffer and he can run the field very well. The 1st team All-SEC performer missed time in 2025, but his presence is seen on every snap. The 6-3 ½, 310 pounder has recorded 50 tackles, 7 /1 2 tackles for losses and 3 QB. sacks over the past two seasons, but he is a major league load in the middle stopping the run and with better technique work will be a good inside pass rusher. Has the ability to slip a block and gain good penetration from the interior.

And how about outside of the first round? Mike D has you covered on that, too. Here are his rankings for players 38-91 (excluding the all those listed above). There are not necessarily projections on where players will be drafted, simply a ranking based on Mike D's evaluations.

38. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
39. Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M
40. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
41. Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
42. Keionte Scott, CB (slot), Miami
43. R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma
44. Aveion Terrell, CB, Clemson
45. Zion Young, Edge, Missouri
46. Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
47. Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
48. Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
49. D’Angelo Ponds, CB (slot), Indiana
50. Malachi Lawrence, edge, UCF
51. Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
52. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
53. Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
54. AJ Haulcy, S, LSU
55. Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois
56. Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
57. Jake Golday, Edge, Cincinnati
58. Derrick Moore, DE, Michigan
59. Gennings Dunker, G, Iowa
60. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
61. Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas
62. Caleb Tiernan, OT/G, Northwestern
63. Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
64. Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
65. Kyle Louis, LB, Pitt
66. Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
67. Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
68. Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
69. Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
70. Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
71. Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
72. Austin Barber, OT, Florida
73. Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
74. Keith Abney, CB, Arizona State
75. Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
76. Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State
77. Connor Lew, C, Auburn
78. Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
79. Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
80. Tredan Stukes, S, Arizona
81. Jake Slaughter, C, Florida
82. Bud Clark, S, TCU
83. Jaishawn Barham, Edge, Michigan
84. Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
85. De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss
86. Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC
87. Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
88. Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
89. Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin
90. Carson Beck, QB, Miami
91. Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington