Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice and Charles McDonald release their latest mock — and the surprises start early.

March Madness is behind us, and the NFL Draft conversation is officially heating up. With five teams holding multiple first-round picks and plenty of roster holes to fill across the league, the 2026 draft class is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing in recent memory. Here’s a full breakdown of every pick in the eighth edition of Tice and McDonald’s collaborative mock.

The Big Headlines

Before diving pick by pick, a few things stand out in this version of the mock. Ohio State dominates the top ten, with four Buckeyes off the board before pick 11. Ty Simpson — one of the most debated prospects in this class — slides all the way to pick 31, where Arizona takes a calculated swing. And a late trade back into the first round ends up making the most noise of the entire draft.

Picks 1–10: Ohio State Takes Over

1. Las Vegas Raiders — Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana The Raiders select their franchise quarterback of the future, with Kirk Cousins presumably playing the mentor role while Mendoza develops. A neat setup — assuming Cousins embraces the transition.

2. New York Jets — Arvell Reese, Edge/LB, Ohio State A versatile modern weapon who can rush the passer or drop into coverage. Exactly the kind of needle-mover a Jets defense in rebuild mode desperately needs.

3. Arizona Cardinals — Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia Perhaps the biggest surprise of the early picks. Arizona opts for offensive line stability over flashier options, landing the highest-upside tackle in the class to anchor their rebuild.

4. Tennessee Titans — Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State Robert Saleh’s defenses have always thrived with elite linebackers at their core. Styles has the intelligence and athleticism to be that player — picture him flying around behind Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers.

5. New York Giants — Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame John Harbaugh wants to run the football. Pairing Love with Cam Skattebo and Jaxson Dart gives New York a genuinely exciting offensive core to build around.

6. Cleveland Browns — Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State Four Buckeyes in the top ten. Tate is as reliable as they come — a versatile receiver who can play multiple roles and gives Cleveland a legitimate young weapon alongside Harold Fannin Jr.

7. Washington Commanders — David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech A Dan Quinn-coded pass rusher if there ever was one. Bailey’s speed off the edge is elite, though his run defense will need refinement at the next level.

8. New Orleans Saints — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU The Saints pass on wide receiver and invest in Brandon Staley’s defense instead. Delane’s ball skills and intelligence should thrive in a zone-heavy scheme.

9. Kansas City Chiefs — Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State Some would argue Downs is the best player in this entire class. Getting him at nine is outstanding value for a Chiefs secondary that lost meaningful pieces this offseason.

10. Cincinnati Bengals — Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami High production, elite effort, shorter frame. Bain is everything Shemar Stewart wasn’t — a tone-setter whose motor never stops.

Picks 11–20: Trenches and Cornerstones

11. Miami Dolphins — Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami With a massive dead cap strangling Miami’s ambitions, staying local and drafting a versatile lineman who can play guard or tackle is exactly the right long-term move.

12. Dallas Cowboys — Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn Young, raw, and polarizing among evaluators — but the upside is real. Dallas bets on his youth and elite run-stopping ability to bolster a reworked defensive front.

13. Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons) — Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah Rob Havenstein’s retirement created a clear need at right tackle. Lomu’s power and athleticism make him a natural fit in Sean McVay’s run game.

14. Baltimore Ravens — Spencer Fano, OL, Utah Whether Fano plays tackle or moves inside, his athleticism and zone-blocking chops fit perfectly in Baltimore’s offensive line philosophy. A potential future center option too.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee One of the most talented players in the class, slipping due to an ACL recovery that kept him off the field last season. At 20 years old, the ceiling here is enormous.

16. New York Jets (via Colts) — Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State After losing two starting guards in free agency, the Jets double dip in the first round to protect whoever their quarterback of the future turns out to be.

17. Detroit Lions — Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State The Lions need a bookend for Penei Sewell. Iheanachor’s rapid development — from JUCO to first-round talent — makes him one of the more fascinating stories in this class.

18. Minnesota Vikings — Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State Not the flashiest pick, but exactly the kind of block-eating interior presence that lets Brian Flores’ creative defensive schemes work at their best.

19. Carolina Panthers — Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon Paired with Tetairoa McMillan, Sadiq gives Carolina a genuinely frightening duo of athletic pass catchers that will stress defenses for years.

20. Dallas Cowboys (via Packers) — Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee Dallas grabs its second pick of the draft and adds a dynamic cornerback to a position group that can never have enough quality depth. Two Tennessee corners in the top 20 — not a bad haul for the Vols.

Picks 21–32: Steals, Dice Rolls, and the Simpson Debate

21. Pittsburgh Steelers — Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State Injury-plagued in college but undeniably talented. Tyson alongside DK Metcalf would give Pittsburgh a big, physical receiving duo — whenever the quarterback situation gets sorted out.

22. Los Angeles Chargers — TJ Parker, Edge, Clemson A rugged, assignment-sound edge defender who sets the run and can kick inside on passing downs. Not a sack machine, but a foundational piece.

23. Philadelphia Eagles — Blake Miller, OT, Clemson The Eagles play the long game, stashing a potential Lane Johnson successor the same way they handled the Jason Kelce transition at center.

24. Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars) — Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama Cleveland completes a strong draft by pairing their new wide receiver with a massive, explosive tackle who gives their reworked offensive line real balance.

25. Chicago Bears — Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon Chicago’s secondary showed flashes but lacked consistency. Thieneman could be the final piece that ties the unit together and lets the Bears attack more freely on defense.

26. Buffalo Bills — Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo A quick-diagnosing safety who can work in the box or as a single-high anchor — a perfect fit for what Jim Leonhard asks of his safeties in Buffalo’s new defensive scheme.

27. San Francisco 49ers — Peter Woods, DT, Clemson Once a projected top-ten talent, a quiet final college season has Woods sliding. San Francisco lands him at 27 to develop alongside Mykel Williams on a talented defensive front.

28. Houston Texans — Anthony Hill, LB, Texas DeMeco Ryans gets his linebacker of the future. With both current starters heading toward free agency, Hill’s range, intelligence, and athleticism make this pick as much about long-term planning as immediate impact.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (via Rams) — Caleb Banks, DT, Florida A dice roll on pure talent. Banks has injury concerns and finishing issues, but the idea of him learning alongside Chris Jones is too intriguing for Kansas City to pass up.

30. Miami Dolphins (via Broncos) — Denzel Boston, WR, Washington Malik Willis needs someone to throw to after the Jaylen Waddle trade. Boston’s size and vertical ability make him far more than just a stopgap option.

31. Arizona Cardinals (via Patriots) — Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama Here’s the pick that’s generated the most conversation. The Cardinals trade back into the first round to grab Simpson, one of the most debated prospects in the class. An injury hampered his final season at Alabama, but his upside as a viable starter — combined with fifth-year option control — makes the gamble reasonable for a team looking to accelerate its rebuild.

32. Seattle Seahawks — Zion Young, Edge, Missouri Mike Macdonald loves rugged, physical edge defenders who can anchor the run and collapse the pocket. Young’s heavy hands and relentless style make him a clean fit to close out the first round.

Mock Draft at a Glance