Nfl Mock Draft 2026: Second full-round projection arrives as Combine opens
The latest nfl mock draft 2026 projection lays out a full Round 1 forecast as the league gathers in Indianapolis for the Scouting Combine, with NFL Network and NFL+ set to begin live coverage on Feb. 26. The timing matters because events at Lucas Oil Stadium this week could shift the prospect pecking order before the draft in Pittsburgh on April 23-25.
Jets in Nfl Mock Draft 2026: Bailey eyed as edge rusher to fit Aaron Glenn’s scheme
One of the clearer cause-and-effect threads in the projection ties coaching changes to roster moves: with Aaron Glenn taking over defensive play-calling duties, the Jets are forecast to select an edge rusher to increase pressure and create more takeaway opportunities. The prospect pegged for New York is Bailey, described as a spectacular sack specialist with the explosiveness to disrupt quarterbacks.
That choice reflects a simple calculus — a coach who emphasizes aggressive defensive play calls for personnel who can turn pressures into turnovers — which is why the projection prioritizes a pass rusher for a team seeking more defensive impact plays.
Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium and April draft in Pittsburgh shape timing and evaluations
The projection is being updated as the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine runs at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and the evaluator notes that performance across drills and interviews this week could reorder teams' boards. Live broadcast coverage on NFL Network and NFL+ begins on Feb. 26, giving teams and evaluators expanded visibility into measurables and interviews ahead of the April 23-25 draft in Pittsburgh.
What makes this notable is how tightly compressed the evaluation window is: combine testing, medical checks and conversations in Indianapolis can prompt teams to move prospects up or down a full round before the draft weekend three months from now.
Team fits highlighted: Mendoza to Raiders, Mauigoa to Cardinals, and other projected selections
The projection assigns specific fits across multiple clubs based on roster needs and coaching profiles. The Raiders are forecast to open the Klint Kubiak era at quarterback with Mendoza, whose pinpoint passing and clutch playmaking are expected to energize an offense already described as having blue-chip pieces at running back and tight end. In Arizona, the Cardinals’ need for a right-side tackle opposite Paris Johnson Jr. results in a projection of Mauigoa, an edge blocker noted for his size and strength.
Other first-round fits in the projection include: Reese to the Titans as a developmental off-ball linebacker and edge rusher; Downs to the Ravens as a multi-faceted defensive playmaker to fit John Harbaugh’s history of building around All-Pro safeties; Fano to Cleveland to help overhaul the offensive line; Bain as a high-motor defender suited to a disruptive role reminiscent of younger power rushers; Love to the Saints as a complementary back; Tate to Kansas City as a big-play perimeter target; Faulk to Cincinnati for base-end run defense and disruptive potential; and Delane to Miami for versatility in coverage under Jeff Hafley’s scheme.
Each projection links a team’s immediate roster profile or coaching preference to the targeted prospect’s traits — for example, Cleveland’s offensive-line overhaul points to a people-moving tackle, while Baltimore’s defensive focus on playmaking safeties drives interest in a communicative, high-IQ defender.
The projection is explicitly a second, updated full-round forecast released as the Combine commences; evaluators stress that on-field measurements and interviews in Indianapolis remain likely to affect final placements before the draft in late April. That progression — from combine performances to final draft decisions — is the through line animating this latest mock draft exercise.
