Jordan Katz 2026 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Post Super-Bowl

Posted on February 11, 2026

Following a Super Bowl that… uhhh… existed…

We are OFFICIALLY in Mock Draft SZN!

For this mock, we remain at one round (the Post Combine one will be two as usual), and I, once again, tried to keep my trades to a minimum. I do think this offseason can have some fireworks, but for right now, we are playing the draft conservatively. Let’s jump right in to Mock 2.0!

ROUND ONE

1) Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB Indiana- The first overall pick is already a foregone conclusion. Mendoza had one of the greatest collegiate seasons ever, and he has the experience that seems to be required to be successful in the NFL. Unless the Raiders choose to pursue Lamar Jackson, this pick will be Mendoza.

2) *TRADE* Los Angeles Rams (from Jets): Arvell Reese, LB Ohio State- Picking second in a one-quarterback class truly is the Jets’ kind of luck. However, they will likely have a couple of trade options here at two. One team that jumps out is the Rams. The Rams have very few needs and a ton of draft capital. They can fly up the board for an impact player of need like Arvell Reese. 

Meanwhile, the Jets need to continue to fill out their roster, so they need all of the assets they can get. This feels like a trade down, even if the Jets take lower value than expected to do so.

The Trade: The Los Angeles Rams trade the #13 and #29 overall selections to the New York Jets for the #2 overall selection and a 2027 4th-round pick.

3) Arizona Cardinals: Spencer Fano, OT Utah- The Cardinals can go several different directions at this pick, but offensive line seems like the way they will go. I have moved Fano over Mauigoa for two reasons. He is a better pass protector than Mauigoa, and his footwork would allow him to play left or right tackle if an NFL team needed him to. 

4) Tennessee Titans: Francis Mauigoa, OT Miami- Mauigoa is a mauler on the right side of the line and will be a great addition to any NFL team that takes him. Yes, the Titans do need pass catchers. However, there are a lot of NFL-caliber wide receivers in this draft. There are way fewer quality starting tackles.

5) New York Giants: Makai Lemon, WR USC- A change at the top wide receiver, not on my personal board (Tate is still my top guy), but on my projected mock. The NFL seems to love Makai Lemon, and with good reason. He put up insane numbers in his final year at USC (79 receptions with just one drop on 110 targets and 11 touchdowns). He’s explosive with the ball, he runs really strong routes, and despite being undersized (5’11), he plays tough. Lemon would be an excellent complement to Malik Nabers. 

6) Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR Ohio State- I’m leaving pass catcher here for now, but something tells me the Browns will be a wildcard team in the top 10. They have so many needs, and much like the Jets, they are not in a position to land a quarterback of the future here. I think there is a very good chance we start to hear the Browns taking the “best player available,” or trading out following the combine.

7) Washington Commanders: David Bailey, EDGE Texas Tech- David Bailey is the guy in the top 10 that can do the most for himself during the draft process. He is an elite athlete who dips-and-bends around the edge with elite quickness. If he has a strong combine, I think he is in play as early as second overall.

8) New Orleans Saints: Jeremiah Love, RB Notre Dame- In my previous mock, I wrote about how I expect Baltimore to be a team that pursues moving up for Jeremiah Love, and I still do. However, early signs are that any team that wants Love will have to move past New Orleans, and that may be too steep a price for some.

Love is a do-it-all back with incredible vision between the tackles. He may not be the explosive athlete that a Saquon Barkley or a Jahmyr Gibbs was as a prospect, but he’s a really intelligent football player. Get ready to draft him early in your fantasy football leagues.

9) Kansas City Chiefs: Reuben Bain Jr., EDGE Miami- Bain is the kind of edge rusher that would thrive in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. He plays with a high motor, he’s disciplined against the run, and he runs the arch to the quarterback very well. Some question his length, but I think Bain has a very high floor because of his football IQ.

10) Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, S Ohio State- Speaking of players with a high floor, many feel the safest pick in this draft is Downs. He’s a complete safety; he’s willing to come up and play the run, he reads and reacts well, and he has good ball instincts. Cincinnati needs all the help it can get on defense, so Downs feels like a safe option here at 10.

11) Miami Dolphins: Sonny Styles, LB Ohio State- There are several off-ball linebackers in this class that will be difference makers at the next level. Styles is the best of the bunch. He flies around the field showing excellent sideline-to-sideline range. He’s also able to stack-and-shed against the run. Styles is an impact player at the second level; he will be off the board sooner rather than later come April.

12) Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, CB LSU- In my opinion, the cornerback class is weaker than the experts are indicating. Having said that, Delane is a high-floor player because he plays physical at the line of scrimmage and closes well in off-coverage. It would not shock me if Delane becomes a top 5-7 pick in a few months because he is clearly the best of the bunch at corner.

13) *TRADE* New York Jets (from Rams via Falcons): Denzel Boston, WR Washington- Do not be surprised if Denzel Boston goes in the top 10. Boston is a big body receiver that makes 50-50 balls look like 75-25. He also lines up in the slot and shows fluid movement in his routes. Boston could sneak into the “WR1” conversation if he tests well at the combine. The Jets get a much-needed playmaker opposite Garrett Wilson. 

The Trade: See Pick #2.

14) Baltimore Ravens: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S Toledo– Emmanuel McNeil-Warren seems to be the draft crush of several mock draft analysts. He’s long, he has phenomenal sideline-to-sideline range, and he plays downhill with fury. Putting him next to Kyle Hamilton feels like a quality team-building decision.

15) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Brandon Cisse, CB South Carolina- In my opinion, the biggest riser from the combine in a few weeks is going to be Brandon Cisse. He has some weaknesses, but he is an elite athlete with terrific footwork when closing on the ball. In a cornerback class that lacks a true shutdown guy, Cisse’s traits could land him higher than people expect.

16) New York Jets (from Colts): Cashius Howell, EDGE Texas A&M- The Jets are moving to a 3-4, which is why they will likely have the leverage necessary to trade out of two if a team covets Arvell Reese. If they make that move, look for Cashius Howell to be in play in the middle of the draft.

Howell is undersized off the edge, but he has a tremendous get-off and runs the arch fluidly because of his athleticism. He’s a prototypical 3-4 edge player at the next level.

17) Detroit Lions: Keldric Faulk, EDGE/DL Auburn- Part of the Lions’ regression had to do with their regression in the trenches, particularly on the defensive side. Faulk can play outside as a five-tech or inside as a three-tech. His grip strength allows him to be a force in the run game. 

18) Minnesota Vikings: Olaivavega Ioane, IOL Penn State- Minnesota is a massive wildcard in this draft. I could see them pursuing a veteran quarterback through trade, they could move up for a difference maker on defense, or trade back and fill out their roster.

If they stay here, Ioane would be ideal if he fell this far. He’s one of the few complete offensive linemen in this draft.

19) Carolina Panthers: Dillon Thieneman, S Oregon- Three safeties in the top 20 feels bizarre, but the top of the position group is incredibly strong. Thieneman lines up all over the field and makes impact plays near the line of scrimmage. He reads and closes nicely in the deep third. For me, it’s his ability to be sticky from the slot that separates him from other safeties. 

20) Dallas Cowboys (from Packers): Akheem Mesidor, EDGE Miami- Dallas is going to take an edge in round one, or at least they should. Mesidor does a great job setting the edge and against the run, and wins with power as a pass rusher. I expect him to go somewhere in the 20-40 range, depending on his athletic testing at the Combine.

21) Pittsburgh Steelers: Jordyn Tyson, WR Arizona State- Tyson makes a ton of 50/50 plays down the field; he’s excellent at using his body on contested catches. He also has some wiggle in his routes. Tyson is able to sink his hips into cuts and create separation with his athleticism. If his medical checks out at the combine (some durability issues in college), Tyson will be a hot commodity in the draft.  

22) Los Angeles Chargers: Kayden McDonald, IDL Ohio State- Despite re-signing Teair Tart, the Chargers still need help in the trenches defensively. McDonald was a big riser throughout the college season. He projects as a very strong one-tech or three-tech at the next level, and his biggest strength is his ability to stack-and-shed in the run game. If McDonald can improve as a pass rusher, he can be an impact player at the next level.

23) Philadelphia Eagles: K.C. Concepcion, WR Texas A&M- For now, I am going to continue to mock a receiver to Philly in anticipation that AJ Brown demands a trade (see later in the draft). KC Concepcion is a little undersized (5’11), but he’s explosive with the ball in his hands. He fits nicely in Head Coach Nick Sirianni’s offense.

24) Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars): Kaydn Proctor, OL Alabama- Proctor is a mammoth of a human (6’7 366 lbs). His footwork needs improving, but his grip strength is so strong, and he dominates in the run game. There’s work to be done, but Proctor is an intriguing prospect.

25) Chicago Bears: T.J. Parker, EDGE Clemson- Parker in the Bears’ defense is a perfect fit. He’s rarely out of position in the run game, and he wins with well-timed, powerful strikes in both the run and pass game. Placing his discipline opposite Montez Sweat would allow Sweat to play free and hunt the quarterback.

26) *TRADE* Philadelphia Eagles (from Bills): Kenyon Sadiq, TE Oregon- The AJ Brown trade of this mock draft lands AJB in the AFC East again, but with a different team (see mock 1.0). 

Buffalo may have missed their best opportunity for a Super Bowl appearance in 2025 because they did not have a true number-one receiver. The Bills have to get one this offseason.

Philadelphia needs to get younger and more explosive in their receiving corps. Dallas Goedert’s best days are behind him, and there is nothing behind him. Sadiq doesn’t have elite size and length, but he is a complete tight end. He shows a quality route tree with good YAC ability, and he’s a tremendous blocker. This is a terrific fit regardless of a trade or not.

The Trade: The Buffalo Bills trade the 26th overall selection to the Philadelphia Eagles for AJ Brown and a 2027 conditional 3rd round pick.

27) San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu, OT Utah- I really like the idea of the Niners looking for Trent Williams’s replacement in this draft. Several prospects around this range could develop into really solid tackles with some improved technique. Lomu can sit for a year, clean up the accuracy of his strikes in both the run and pass game, and take over for Williams after next season.

28) Houston Texans: Blake Miller, OT Clemson- One of my draft crushes in this cycle is Blake Miller. He plays with a mean streak, but uses his quickness in the pass game rather than his power to protect the quarterback. His lower body strength allows him to anchor against power rushers as well. If Miller tests well, you could see him slide in the top 20 conversation.

29) *TRADE* New York Jets (from Rams): Jermod McCoy, CB Tennessee- Speaking of testing well, Jermod McCoy’s draft stock will be solely based on his Combine performance. McCoy had a tremendous 2024 season, but tore his ACL before he could play in 2025. If he passes his medicals, and he shows the athleticism that we saw on tape, we will see McCoy come off the board in the top 15.

The Trade: See Pick #2.

30) Denver Broncos: CJ Allen, LB Georgia- CJ Allen is a really complete off-ball linebacker, and Denver does need an off-ball linebacker. The problem for Allen is that this is the range we could see a lot of offensive linemen come off the board. That can affect some really good players and their draft stocks, and someone could slide to Denver here that is more impactful. While Allen is a first-round-worthy player, I would not be shocked if he fell into the middle of round two.

31) New England Patriots: Monroe Freeling, OT Georgia- Well, if you watched the Super Bowl, this pick really should not surprise you. Left Tackle Will Campbell really belongs at guard, and Left Guard Jared Wilson really belongs at center. That leaves a hole at tackle, which is where Monroe Feeling will attempt to slide into.

32) Seattle Seahawks: D’Angelo Ponds, CB Indiana- The Seahawks’ secondary took big strides in 2025. They do still need a slot corner to be a chess piece, and that could be D’Angelo Ponds. Pound-for-pound, Ponds is the best football player in the draft (5’9, 170 lbs). He also might have the best ball skills of any corner in the draft. I love this fit.