by: Steve Samra 7 hours ago SamraSource
The 2025-26 NFL and college football seasons are nearing their ends. Only next Monday’s national championship game between Indiana and Miami remains for college football, while the NFL postseason moves on to the Divisional Round.
With more than half of the first round draft order set for April’s 2026 NFL Draft, Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus took the opportunity to update his projection for how Round 1 could play out. He’s released his latest mock draft.
The Las Vegas Raiders are making the first selection. Chadwick is making his picks without any projected trades beyond what’s already been finalized. Check out his full mock draft here.
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. The Raiders can’t wait to turn this pick in.
Chadwick : “The Pete Carroll-Geno Smith partnership lasted just one disastrous season in Las Vegas. The Raiders are currently looking for Carroll’s replacement and will likely use this top selection to find Smith’s. Mendoza could fit the billing.”
Moore has arguably the highest ceiling of any draft-eligible quarterbacks 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 potential, the Jets should be overjoyed if he fell to them at No. 2.
Chadwick : “As long as Moore enters the draft, the Jets will likely select whichever quarterback the Raiders don’t take. Moore’s 90.3 PFF passing grade is fifth among all quarterbacks in the nation this year, while his 30 big-time throws are tied for the most.”
This is a 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 Cardinals defense.
Chadwick : “The Cardinals also need a quarterback, but there isn’t one worth taking here with the third overall pick. Instead, Arizona selects one of the top defenders available in Reese. He’s an impressive downhill defender, as his eight sacks this year are tied for fourth among all linebackers in America.”
Considered one of the premier pass rusher in this year’s draft class, Bain Jr.’s rep has taken a bit of hit with questions about his less-than-ideal arm length. Of course, Bain could answer all those questions next month at the Combine. But in the meantime, Bain makes too much sense for a Titans team in need of a little influx of youth, especially on defense.
Chadwick : “While the Titans need to surround quarterback Cam Ward with more talent, they also didn’t have a single edge defender higher than 70th in PFF grade this year. Enter Bain, whose 93.1 PFF grade is second among all defenders in college football. … Arm length be damned, he’s one of the best football players in this draft.”
Coming from WRU, the 6-foot-1 Tate is a natural playmaker down the field after leading the Buckeyes averaging 17.16 yards per reception this past season while playing second-fiddle beside star sophomore Jeremiah Smith. Tate, who hauled in nine touchdowns in 2025, would help elevate a Giants WR room that features Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton.
Chadwick : “While the Titans refused to surround Ward with more talent with their top pick, the Giants refuse to do the same with Jaxson Dart and give him Tate here. … Tate would give New York a true X-receiver that’d pair very nicely with Malik Nabers once he recovers from his torn ACL.”
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.