2026 NFL mock draft: Projected trades get Cowboys a pass rusher, Ty Simpson into Round 1

While the 2026 NFL Draft is still more than two weeks away, the league’s 32 teams have most of their pre-event evaluations in the barn – pro day season completing another important part of the process. And while prospects can continue visiting the clubs through April 15, front offices are already finalizing their big boards. That’s not to say there isn’t work left to be done, especially on the contingency planning front.

Many general managers like to wargame various draft scenarios as well as mulling prospective incoming or outgoing offers and how trades could alter their approach to the next aspect of roster building. And while it’s generally unlikely that any more Round 1 pick swaps will occur before the Raiders go on the clock April 23, you can bet more will materialize once names start to get called in Pittsburgh. With the art of the deal in mind, USA TODAY Sports’ latest mock draft builds in some reasonably likely trade scenarios into this first-round projection: 1.

Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana He put a nice exclamation point on his college career as the Hoosiers wrapped up pro day season last week. There’s no doubt that national championship-winning Heisman Trophy winner will be the Silver and Black’s choice to resurrect their franchise – though he may not have to try and do it right away now that Kirk Cousins has joined the fold in Sin City. 2.

New York Jets – OLB Arvell Reese, Ohio State Plenty of good players to choose from here but going with a potentially dominant pass rusher seems like the right intersection of value and talent – and perhaps no one in this draft has a higher upside than Reese, who won’t be 21 until August. He played off the ball more than he did on the edge in Columbus, but the rebuilding Jets could ease him in as a pressure player while also deploying him at the second level as he matures and progresses. A team that’s at least a few years away doesn’t need Reese to be a finished product in 2026.