2026 NFL mock draft: Chiefs trade up to address pass rush

Do not include me among the group of people who believe Ty Simpson is better than Fernando Mendoza.

I retain my right to change my mind, but I doubt I will. Reese is the most intriguing defensive prospect in the class with the highest upside. He’s exactly who you want to take at No. 2 in this spot.

The Chiefs get aggressive with their many draft picks and move up to address their pass rush by taking Bailey. Patrick Mahomes has somebody to talk about Texas Tech with in the locker room now.

I’m convinced that if it’s not the Titans taking Love here, it’s somebody trading up to take Love. It’d be odd for that to happen for an RB, but with his talent and in this draft class, it makes sense.

I’m not as convinced on Styles as many others seemingly are at this point, but there’s enough reliable smoke out there about the Giants’ interest in him that I’m joining the party.

The Browns are likely to go OT or WR here and have their choice of the top one on their board at both spots. In this scenario, I imagine the WR gets taken first.

The Commanders have plenty of needs on their defense, and maybe they address the pass rush here, but you can’t understate how valuable a player like Downs would be for a defense. He’s a Field General. He improves everything.

The Saints happily snap up Bain as he falls down the board into their laps. Perhaps not the most pressing need in New Orleans, but a need nonetheless.

After trading down six spots, the Cardinals acquire some additional draft capital and are still able to take the top OT on their board. Is it Freeling? I don’t know, but for a team that’s rebuilding, why not take the project left tackle over the right tackle who may have to move to guard?

The Bengals grab the best corner in the class to help out a defense that needs help everywhere.

With Jaylen Waddle in Denver, the Dolphins grab a new receiver in Lemon, who is the top WR on my board.

McCoy didn’t play in 2025 but was fantastic in 2024, and as long as he has a clean bill of health, he isn’t likely to last long.

Sean McVay is never shy about adding new weapons to his offense, and, honestly, with all the headlines Puka Nacua is making off the field these days, it doesn’t hurt to add more depth to the position.

There are two locks in this draft: Mendoza to the Raiders and Ioane to the Ravens. OK, so Ioane isn’t a lock, but it feels like one, seeing as how he’s the pick in every single mock you’ve read.

Mesidor is likely tapped out as far as potential, but he’ll be a valuable member of anybody’s defensive line rotation.

If Terrell were 6-foot-1, he might be a top-10 pick. Regardless, he’s the best corner still on my board at this point, and the Jets can use help at corner.

Perhaps it’s time for Detroit to move Penei Sewell over to the left side of the offensive line? Drafting Mauigoa would help ease the transition and keep the Lions’ run game from dropping off considerably.

The Vikings are somebody to keep an eye on for a possible trade up, but if they stick where they are, Thieneman feels like a logical choice considering what’s likely to be available, and their needs.

This would be two straight years of using a first-round pick on a pass-catcher, but when you’ve used a No. 1 overall pick on Bryce Young (not to mention the capital that went into acquiring the pick), you have to keep doing everything you can to give him weapons.

There are differing opinions on Thomas. Odds are he’s not going to develop into an all-around defensive end, but he has high upside as a pass-rusher, and the Cowboys will take all the help they can get in that department.

A third tackle in four years in the first round isn’t the hope, but the Steelers still need help finding a tackle they can rely on. Perhaps Fano is finally it.

The Chargers got mauled along the lines of scrimmage last year, in large part due to injury, but it’s hard for me to believe Jim Harbaugh watched it happen all season long and won’t use a first-round pick on improving one of his lines.

Lomu is a player I like quite a bit who doesn’t get the same kind of love from the consensus. The Eagles look toward the future up front with this choice.

Miller is one of the more projectable tackle prospects in the class, and the Browns certainly need help along their offensive line. A worthy value pick at this point in the first round.

Young doesn’t have the production of other edge players in the class, but he’s very young in comparison and has the measurables teams seek at the position. The Bears are seeking improvement all across their defense.

It’s hard to play WR with Josh Allen because he extends plays so often, but Cooper’s skillset is one I think would blend well with Allen and improve the Bills offense.

In my first mock, I had Boston going to San Francisco, writing at the time that he’s always struck me as a perfect fit in a Kyle Shanahan offense. I’m glad I was able to reunite them here in my fourth go-round.

Proctor’s stock seems to be falling the deeper we get into the process. Not a free fall where I expect him to drop out of the first, but I’ve seen names climb above him in mocks, as well as on my own board. Still, there’s enough here to make him an enticing option for a Houston team with plenty of needs up front.

After trading up to get Bailey earlier, the Chiefs use the extra first-rounder they got in the Trent McDuffie trade to grab a young corner who could serve as his replacement.

Perhaps the Dolphins use their newly-acquired late first-rounder to get a QB, or maybe they prefer to wait until next season when the QB class is expected to be considerably stronger. I’ve made it clear what I feel is more likely.

Rodriguez was a tackle machine at Texas Tech last season with an instinct for forcing turnovers. He had a very strong performance at the combine and displayed better athleticism than I anticipated. He strikes me as a player Mike Vrabel can love.

I’ve no idea what Seattle does here, but adding another body for the interior of the offensive line doesn’t seem like a bad idea.