Two-time Huddle Report Top 100 board scoring champion Xavier Cromartie has released his latest 1st-round mock draft.
Xavier’s mock drafts are based upon his draft research and what his sources are communicating to him at this time -- and are not based on his personal scouting preferences. Xavier will have several Mock Drafts throughout the draft season as he works his way to the final mock draft submission for the national competition of mock draft analysts right before the 2026 NFL Draft.
2026 NFL Mock Draft
Author: Xavier Cromartie (FFM)
Date: 27 Jan 2026 | Version: 1.0
First Round Selections
1. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) The pick: The Raiders take the undisputed top pick.
2. New York Jets: DE Arvell Reese (Ohio State) The pick: The Jets have drafted some edge rushers but they haven't been great. Their defense was terrible against the pass.
3. Arizona Cardinals: DE David Bailey (Texas Tech) The pick: The Cardinals are similar to the Jets with significant problems in pass defense.
4. Tennessee Titans: WR Carnell Tate (Ohio State) The pick: The Titans struggled to pass the ball to their receiving group, led by 31-year-old Calvin Ridley.
5. New York Giants: OT Francis Mauigoa (Miami FL) The pick: The Giants will make protecting Jaxson Dart a top priority.
6. Cleveland Browns: OT Spencer Fano (Utah) The pick: The Browns need to get their pass game going. They can go OT here and more O later.
7. Washington: CB Mansoor Delane (LSU) The pick: The Football Team was dreadful against the pass and need to improve at CB.
8. New Orleans Saints: RB Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) The pick: The Saints were one of the worst rushing teams and ended the season with their 4th-stringer starting.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: S Caleb Downs (Ohio State) The pick: The Chiefs were better than their record and may be willing to take a non-premium position.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: CB Jermod McCoy (Tennessee) The pick: The Bengals had problems everywhere on defense and need to use multiple picks there.
11. Miami Dolphins: WR Makai Lemon (USC) The pick: The Dolphins need a second WR with Tyreek Hill on the way out.
12. Dallas Cowboys: DE Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami FL) The pick: The Cowboys biggest focus should be on fixing their pass defense.
13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): CB Avieon Terrell (Clemson) The pick: The Rams are one of the top teams, but their defense struggled late in the season.
14. Baltimore Ravens: DE Keldric Faulk (Auburn) The pick: The Ravens traded Odafe Oweh, likely in anticipation of a solid edge rusher draft class.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LB Sonny Styles (Ohio State) The pick: The Bucs have a long history of excellent LB play but Lavonte David has fallen off.
16. New York Jets (via IND): QB Ty Simpson (Alabama) The pick: The Jets have been looking for a franchise QB since the glory days of Mark Sanchez.
17. Detroit Lions: DE Akheem Mesidor (Miami FL) The pick: The Lions mediocre defense could use additional pass-rush juice.
18. Minnesota Vikings: WR Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) The pick: The Vikings need to support JJ McCarthy, and Jordan Addison hasn't developed.
19. Carolina Panthers: DT Peter Woods (Clemson) The pick: The Panthers are not very talented despite their playoff appearance.
20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): CB Brandon Cisse (South Carolina) The pick: The Cowboys continue working on their pass defense with an athletic CB.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Denzel Boston (Washington) The pick: The Steelers have a severe need for a WR.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: OT/OG Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) The pick: The Chargers offensive line problems were partly because of injuries, but they need more support regardless.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: DE Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) The pick: The Eagles always build through the lines.
24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): OG Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State) The pick: The Browns took an OT earlier, and now they take an OG since their starters are on the way out.
25. Chicago Bears: OT Caleb Lomu (Utah) The pick: The Bears may look at LT after a significant injury to Ozzy Trapilo.
26. Buffalo Bills: DT Kayden McDonald (Ohio State) The pick: The Bills have an obvious problem in rush defense.
27. San Francisco 49ers: CB Colton Hood (Tennessee) The pick: The 49ers need to strengthen their pass defense, especially at CB.
28. Houston Texans: TE Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon) The pick: The Texans had a championship defense but need to give Stroud another weapon like Sadiq on offense.
29. Los Angeles Rams: CB Keith Abney II (Arizona State) The pick: The Rams took at CB at pick 13 but may need to double up, depending on free agency.
30. Denver Broncos: S Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) The pick: The Broncos can focus on maintaining their elite defense, which nearly got them to the Super Bowl.
31. New England Patriots: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo) The pick: The Patriots have no depth behind their two Cal safeties after trading Kyle Dugger.
32. Seattle Seahawks: DT Caleb Banks (Florida) The pick: The Seahawks could maintain their excellent run defense with additional depth.
Mock Draft Scoring History
Huddle Report Metrics:
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5-YR AVG: 42.8
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2025: 39
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2024: 47
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2023: 35
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2022: 41
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2021: 52
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2020: 43
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2019: 37
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2018: 40
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2017: 37
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2016: 37
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2015: 48
