Top-5 Prospects Shine as Teams Battle Over The 2023 NFL Draft Picks!

The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine has been in the rearview mirror for several weeks, and the countdown until Roger Goodell takes the stage to a chorus of boos is officially on. While there are still a few weeks left for prospects to raise or lower their stock during the pre-draft process, we are taking our first stab at what could happen on draft night in April. Let’s dive into a few bold predictions just over a month out from Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Fernando Mendoza is Only QB Taken in Round 1 Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Everyone knows that reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza will be selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the first overall pick. The true uncertainty is where the consensus second-best quarterback prospect, Ty Simpson, lands in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers (21st overall) seemed like a potential landing spot, but reports have since made it pretty clear that will not happen.

Maybe a team like the Arizona Cardinals or New York Jets moves up into the end of the first round to land the Alabama signal-caller, but both teams seem to be positioning themselves more for a top passer in the 2027 class. Ultimately, we believe that another quarterback’s name will not be called after Mendoza walks off the stage until Day 2. Related: 2026 NFL Mock Draft Kansas City Chiefs Trade into the Top 5 Michael C.

Johnson-Imagn Images We are predicting that Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach will get aggressive on draft night. After dealing Trent McDuffie, Kansas City has two first-round picks and four selections in the top 75. That gives the franchise the ammunition to move up from No.