The 2026 NFL Draft gets underway in Pittsburgh in just a few short days, but the week begins with a shocker. The New York Giants sent defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, in exchange for the No. 10 pick in the draft. New York now owns a pair of picks inside the top ten, and the Giants are one of several teams — along with the Jets, the Cowboys, the Browns, the Chiefs, and the Dolphins — with a pair of picks in the first round.
As the week begins, here is our latest look at how the first round could unfold. For those wondering, this is more of a predictive mock, trying to sift through the latest reporting and rumors to predict how the first 32 picks will come off the board. In some cases — see No. 10 for example — there is an element of “what I would do” that plays a role.
Here are the picks in this predictive mock, with deeper thoughts on how this top ten would play out.
This remains perhaps the only selection anyone feels confident about inside the top five, let alone the top ten.
Opinions on the Texas Tech pass rusher are mixed, and for the bulk of the pre-draft process it looked as if Arvell Reese from Ohio State would be the Jets’ selection in this spot. But the conversation has shifted heavily to Bailey, with reports from New York beat writers indicating that the organization believes Bailey can help them immediately, while Reese will need a little development as he moves to the edge full-time.
One of the worst-kept secrets in the league right now is that the Dallas Cowboys want to move up in the draft, to land a premium defensive prospect. Earlier in the pre-draft process the rumors held that Dallas would move to No. 6 in a deal with the Cleveland Browns, but as the draft gets closer there are rumblings of a move even higher.
Here, they jump to No. 3 and land Reese in a deal with the Arizona Cardinals, who have been rumored to be moving back as the draft approaches. Using the NFL Trade Calculator from OverTheCap, the cost for such a move? Dallas’ 2027 second-round pick .
With the defensive front no longer a pressing need, the Tennessee Titans can turn to the offense and add some help for Cam Ward.
Jeremiyah Love is an explosive play waiting to happen in the NFL, both on offense and on defense.
Yes, for the longest time a defensive player was the pick here.
But now the New York Giants have a pair of picks inside the top ten, giving them some flexibility. Since he was hired, John Harbaugh has stressed that the offensive line is a work in progress. Now, with two picks inside the top ten, the Giants can address that group while still adding a premium player on the defense side of the ball in a few selections.
Every report indicates that the Cleveland Browns need to come out of the first round with an upgrade at WR, and an upgrade on the offensive line.
Here, they check the first box by adding Carnell Tate, the latest in a long line of talented Ohio State wide receiver prospects.
Washington is another team that could be willing to trade back, given the massive gulf between this pick at No. 7 and their next pick, which comes at No. 71 late on Day 2.
But facing a pressing need to upgrade their defense, and the talented Ohio State linebacker falling to them at No. 7, they run to the podium to take Styles as a means of fixing that defensive front.
The New Orleans Saints could go in a number of different directions here, including wide reciever. But with pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. sliding to them at eight, he makes a ton of sense for the Saints.
Yes, there are rumblings of a further slide for Bain, between the arm length concerns and the recent reporting about the car accident he was involved in during 2024. However, several general managers have indicated that the accident was already factored into their evaluation of Bain as a prospect. Is a further slide possible? Perhaps, but I do believe any slide ends here.
When both Mel Kiper Jr. and Peter Schrager are making this connection, it is worth paying attention to.
Plus, with the Giants now on the clock right behind the Chiefs at No. 10, it makes even more sense that Jordyn Tyson is the selection here.
Between Francis Mauigoa and now Caleb Downs, we have the makings of a John Harbaugh football team.