by: Alex Byington 6 hours ago _AlexByington
Following the conclusion of Wild Card Weekend and last week’s College Football Playoff semifinals, both the 2025-26 NFL and college football seasons are nearing their ends. Only next Monday’s CFP national championship game between No. 1 Indiana and No. 10 Miami remains for college football, while the NFL postseason moves on to this weekend’s Divisional Round.
But with more than half of the first round draft order set for April’s 2026 NFL Draft, CBS Sports took the opportunity to update its projection for how Round 1 could play out with its latest mock draft released Monday night. And while this year’s opening round will likely include several more trades before the Las Vegas Raiders make their selection at No. 1 overall, CBS Sports’ Mike Renner is making his picks without any projected trades beyond what’s already been finalized.
With that in mind, check out CBS Sports’ updated 2026 NFL Mock Draft after Wild Card weekend below:
This should be an easy pick for the quarterback-bereft Raiders, who suffered through a dismal 3-14 campaign that cost Pete Carroll his job after just one season in Vegas. Mendoza is the reigning 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, led the FBS with 41 passing touchdowns on 73-percent passing to rank third nationally, and has the Hoosiers on the verge of winning the program’s first-ever national championship.
CBS Sports: “The Heisman winner and leader of the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers keeps passing every test thrown his way. … We can debate his ceiling all we want, but his floor is unusually high for an incoming quarterback prospect. That’s the separating factor between Mendoza and Dante Moore in any debate between the two.”
While he’s yet to formally declare for the draft, Moore has arguably the highest ceiling of any draft-eligible quarterbacks — at least among those without the Manning surname — after throwing for 3,565 yards on 71.8-percent passing and 30 touchdowns to 10 interceptions in his first full season as the Ducks starter. Given that potenital, the Jets should be overjoyed if he fell to them at No. 2.
CBS Sports: “Dante Moore has some of the most effortless arm talent you’ll see, with a throwing motion straight out of a textbook. For the Jets, he profiles as an ideal developmental option amid a long-term rebuild. Moore doesn’t project as a high-end immediate starter, given his limited experience.”
While quarterback will be of the utmost importance, especially with the expectation Arizona is moving on from former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray, the Cardinals instead lock up arguably the draft’s best pass rusher in the 6-foot-3 and 250-pound Bailey, who led the FBS with 14.5 sacks in his lone season in Lubbock. Bailey also ranked second nationally with 19.5 tackles for loss and 13 QB hurries in 2025.
CBS Sports: “This isn’t a draft class with a slam-dunk No. 3 overall pick the way Marvin Harrison Jr. was a few years ago, so Arizona may opt for a safer player at a premium position like David Bailey. Bailey is the most explosive edge rusher in the class and can make an immediate impact based on athleticism alone.”
This is another situation where a team with multiple needs simply takes the best available, and Reese certainly qualifies as that after ranking second on the Buckeyes with 69 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in his second season as Ohio State’s starting middle ‘backer. Reese would be an immediate plug-and-play talent in the heart of the Titans defense.
CBS Sports: “Arvell Reese, though, is more of a wildcard — a traits-based projection with high-end upside as a pass rusher. He’s a modern hybrid linebacker who would add pass-rushing juice from anywhere on the Titans’ front seven.”
While he might not have had the career many expected, including a lackluster junior season with 29 tackles, six QB hurries and just two sacks, Faulk’s natural talent as a pass rusher is unmistakable, and he remains in the running to be among the top defensive players drafted in April. If this plays out as projected, Faulk would be a nice addition alongside Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
CBS Sports: “At 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, Faulk is a Calais Campbell-esque tweener who is already a handful in the run game. Slot him next to Dexter Lawrence, and the Giants’ front four would be a terrifying group to block.”
Despite another season limited by injuries, the 6-foot-1 Tyson is a bonafide playmaker at the receiver position and finished his collegiate career with 2,106 yards and 20 touchdowns on 146 receptions in three seasons at Arizona State. Tyson immediately gives whoever the Browns trot out at QB an electric 1-2 punch at receiver alongside Jerry Jeudy.
CBS Sports: “Jordyn Tyson has an injury history that has cost him time in three straight seasons, but when healthy, he has proven to be the best pure separator in the draft class. For the Browns, that’s really all that matters.”