2026 NFL mock draft: Wild-card losers make their picks in Round 1
Six teams have been bounced from the NFL playoffs and four have a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's our latest predictions.
www.usatoday.comHere’s the latest around the 2026 NFL mock draft as of mid-April 2026.
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CBS Sports (early April 2026): Updated 2026 Mock Draft 5.0 after pro days. Early predictions feature top prospects moving around the board, with notable picks such as Rueben Bain Jr. to the Cowboys and Makai Lemon to the Rams in the teens, plus other first-round projections and trades shaping the middle of the order.[1]
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USA Today (mid-March 2026): Updated two-round mock with trades and pro-day context. The board includes Spencer Fano and Jordyn Tyson among early round projections, and several trades that push players to teams that need immediate impact players.[2]
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The Athletic and The Athletic-derivative outlets (January–April 2026): Dane Brugler’s late-December to April mock drafts consistently place Fernando Mendoza (QB) as a top pick for the Raiders, with a mix of receivers and edge players following in the top 15, and multiple trades affecting the later selections.[3][9]
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Sporting News (April 2026): Seven-round mock edition circulating in early April, projecting Mendoza to Las Vegas at No. 1 and a wide range of skill-position and trench prospects landing in the first round, with attention to potential trades that could reshape the top 15.[4]
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Athlon Sports (April 9, 2026): Four-round mock with current buzz, emphasizing trades and the shifting boards as front offices adjust their boards in the final weeks; highlights include movement at quarterback, offensive line, and edge rusher spots.[8]
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YouTube/multimedia roundups (April 2026): Updated video mock drafts and reactions that summarize last-minute intel, pro-day performances, and potential trade scenarios that could alter the top 20 picks; these are useful for getting a sense of collective front-office thinking near draft day.[6][9]
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent single mock draft from a specific outlet (e.g., CBS Sports or USA Today) and summarize how the top 15-20 picks look, including notable trades and risers. I can also create a quick side-by-side table comparing top picks across 2–3 latest mocks. Would you prefer a focus on the top 10 picks, or a broader 1st-round snapshot?
Key context: mock drafts shift quickly on the heels of pro days and private workouts, so late March–April projections are the most volatile and debated among experts.[1][2][3]