With the initial rush of free agency over, mock drafts everywhere are being shuffled about and altered as needs have been filled. With this as well as the NFL Combine changing things around, Niner Noise takes a look with this quick mock draft.
The rules for this mock draft are pretty short and simple: No trades, a quick explanation for every pick that happens on Thursday night is up here.
Read More: Mike Evans dramatically alters 49ers' plans in 2026 NFL Draft
Let's take a look at how this mock draft played out.
2026 mock NFL Draft: Quick edition (post-free agency rush)
Pick 1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, Quarterback, Indiana
No shock here, Las Vegas gets its quarterback of the future and potential face of the franchise.
Pick 2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, Linebacker, Ohio State
Dante Moore going back to school enables the Jets to go the best player available, which could be this freak athlete from Ohio State. Arvell Reese can do anything as a pass-rusher or linebacker.
Pick 3. Arizona Cardinals: Spencer Fano, Offensive Tackle, Utah
This isn't the most popular pick, but the scuttlebutt is the Cardinals absolutely love Spencer Fano and he's a strong candidate for their pick.
Pick 4. Tennessee Titans: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
David Bailey is a freak edge rusher and might go as high as No. 2 overall. The Titans want to look better, like their new Oilers-inspired uniforms are better, and Bailey would be a good weapon for Robert Saleh.
Pick 5. New York Giants: Carnell Tate, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
The Giants are an enigma in terms of who they can take, but finding Jaxson Dart some more weapons is a must.
Pick 6. Cleveland Browns: Caleb Downs, Safety, Ohio State
On the one hand, the Browns have so many more needs to fill than a safety. On the other hand, Caleb Downs might be the best prospect regardless of position in terms of sheer skill.
Pick 7. Washington Commanders: Jeremiyah Love, Running Back, Notre Dame
Jayden Daniels regressed in his second year, so the Commanders need to provide a more potent running game as well as a weapon out of the backfield with this blue-chip prospect.
Pick 8. New Orleans Saints: Sonny Styles, Linebacker, Ohio State
Sonny Styles put himself into top-10 contention when he blitzed the NFL Combine. He's an instinctive linebacker who can be a real beacon in the middle of the field.
Pick 9. Kansas City Chiefs: Reuben Bain, EDGE, Miami
Kansas City is looking to bounce back, and one of the key reasons it dropped off was the defense regressing significantly.
Pick 10. Cincinnati Bengals: Mansoor Delane, Cornerback, LSU
The Bengals need to pick the best defender or offensive lineman on the board. For this, it's Mansoor Delane.
Pick 11. Miami Dolphins: Jordyn Tyson, Wide Receiver, Arizona State
It's a new era in Miami with Malik Willis, the team needs a receiver opposite Jaylen Waddle if they want Willis to succeed.
Pick 12. Dallas Cowboys: Jermod McCoy, Cornerback, Tennessee
Similar to the Bengals, almost any defensive position makes sense for the Cowboys. They address corner here, given the recent departures at the position.
Pick 13. Los Angeles Rams: Francis Mauigoa, Offensive Tackle, Miami
Warren McClendon Jr. is pencilled in at right tackle, but this would give the Rams a big upgrade if the draft fell this way.
Pick 14. Baltimore Ravens: Makai Lemon, Wide Receiver, USC
Surely, the Ravens don't stand pat at wide receiver, plus they're in an arms race with Buffalo and must address their biggest need.
Pick 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kendric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
The Buccaneers need to improve their pass rush if they plan on taking control of the disappointing NFC South before one of the other teams improve.
Pick 16. New York Jets: Olaivavega Ioane, Guard, Penn State
Guards are not sexy picks, but when you have to protect an aged quarterback like Geno Smith, then you better improve that interior blocking.
Pick 17. Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling, Offensive Tackle, Georgia
With Taylor Decker gone, the Lions need a replacement if they want to improve from their disappointing 2025.
Pick 18. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks, Defensive Tackle, Florida
The secondary makes sense too, but so does Caleb Banks who absolutely wowed people during the NFL Combine and can provide a dominant interior force.
Pick 19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq, Tight End, Oregon
Bryce Young has actually showed some progression every year he's been in the NFL, providing him a key player at tight end could help Carolina repeat as NFC South champions with an actually decent record.
Pick 20. Dallas Cowboys: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
T.J. Parker could be anyone for the Cowboys, he could even be Micah Parsons!
Too soon?
Pick 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dillon Thieneman, Safety, Oregon
The Steelers need some serious help in the secondary, Dillon Theieneman has been rocketing up mock drafts.
Pick 22. Los Angeles Chargers: Peter Woods, Defensive Tackle, Clemson
A guard like Emmanuel Pregnon makes sense too as the Chargers offensive line is a shambles, but so is an interior disruptor like Peter Woods who makes sense at this juncture,
Pick 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kadyn Proctor, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
The Eagles find their Lane Johnson heir here with the most polarising tackle of the bunch, as Kadyn Proctor is one of those big prospects at around 360 pounds that either turn into a stud or wipe out of the league in three years.
Pick 24. Cleveland Browns: Omar Cooper, Wide Receiver, Indiana
Shedeur Sanders needs every advantage possible if he's to succeed in the league, and Omar Cooper seems to be one of those players that could sneak into Thursday night contention.
Pick 25. Chicago Bears: Kayden McDonald, Defensive Tackle, Ohio State
The Bears took a key step to relevancy with their 2025 performances, but they need an interior presence on defense if they want to take the next step in 2026.
Pick 26. Buffalo Bills: C.J. Allen, Linebacker, Georgia
Wide receiver is a possibility still despite the D.J. Moore trade, but the team does need to find an improvement at linebacker too.
Pick 27. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu, Offensive Tackle, Utah
San Francisco has done a good job addressing certain areas of need, but it still needs to find an heir apparent to Trent Williams even of the Hall of Fame tackle remains with the team.
Pick 28. Houston Texans: Emmanuel Pregnon, Guard, Oregon
This is an instant plug-and-play pick for the Texans, allowing them to upgrade a position of great need as they look to go further into the playoffs.
Pick 29. Kansas City Chiefs: KC Concepcion, Wide Receiver, Texas A&M
Rashee Rice seems determined to put himself into trouble by any means necessary, so KC absolutely cannot go in 2026 depending on him as their top wide receiver.
Pick 30. Denver Broncos: Christen Miller, Defensive Tackle, Georgia
This makes a lot of sense for the Broncos, who need a defensive tackle and who met with Miller during the NFL Combine.
Pick 31. New England Patriots: Denzel Boston, Wide Receiver, Washington
The Patriots signed Romeo Doubs, but they still need another receiver with Stefon Diggs not in a hurry to return to New England for some reason.
Pick 32. Seattle Seahawks: Avieon Terrell, Cornerback, Clemson
The Seahawks don't need much, but they probably do need a cornerback after losing some pieces in free agency.