Draft Day Dreams: Who Will Shine in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The 2026 NFL Draft is shaping up to be an exciting event, with top college football players ready to make their mark in the professional league. The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to kick off the draft by selecting Fernando Mendoza, a standout quarterback from Indiana who won the Heisman Trophy this past season. Mendoza's impressive stats, including 41 passing touchdowns and a 133. 2 NFL passer rating, make him a strong candidate for the top pick. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs are eyeing Jeremiyah Love, a dynamic running back from Notre Dame, with the ninth overall pick. Love's outstanding performance, with a 93. 1 PFF grade this season, could make him a valuable addition to the Chiefs' lineup. The New York Jets are also in the market for a new quarterback and are likely to select Dante Moore from Oregon if he enters the draft. Moore's 90. 3 PFF passing grade and 30 big-time throws make him a top contender. The Arizona Cardinals, on the other hand, are looking to bolster their defense and may select Arvell Reese, a top defender from Ohio State. Reese's impressive downhill defending skills and eight sacks this year make him a strong candidate for the third overall pick. The Tennessee Titans are in need of an edge defender and may select Rueben Bain Jr. from Miami. Bain's 93. 1 PFF grade and 80 pressures this season make him one of the best football players in this draft. The New York Giants are looking to add more talent to their offense and may select Carnell Tate, a wide receiver from Ohio State. Tate's 88. 6 PFF grade and 151. 8 passer rating when targeted make him a valuable addition to the Giants' lineup. The Cleveland Browns, who have the second-worst team receiving grade in the NFL this season, may select Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State. Tyson's 89. 5 PFF receiving grade over the last two seasons makes him a strong candidate for the sixth overall pick. The Washington Commanders are in need of difference makers on defense and may select Caleb Downs, a safety from Ohio State. Downs' elite 93. 6 career PFF grade makes him one of the best safety prospects in recent memory. The New Orleans Saints are looking to replace Bryan Bresee, who hasn't lived up to his first-round billing, with Peter Woods, a defensive tackle from Clemson. Woods' impressive 87. 1 career PFF grade and prodigious power and quickness make him a strong candidate for the eighth overall pick. The Cincinnati Bengals are looking to add more talent to their defense and may select David Bailey, an edge rusher from Texas Tech. Bailey's 93. 1 PFF grade and 81 pressures this season make him a valuable addition to the Bengals' lineup. The Miami Dolphins are in need of a new cornerback and may select Mansoor Delane from LSU. Delane's impressive stats, including only surrendering a 26. 7 passer rating into his coverage this year, make him a strong candidate for the 11th overall pick. The Dallas Cowboys are looking to bolster their run defense and may select Keldric Faulk from Auburn. Faulk's outstanding 89. 2 PFF run-defense grade over the last two years makes him a valuable addition to the Cowboys' lineup. The Los Angeles Rams are looking to add more talent to their offensive line and may select Spencer Fano from Utah. Fano's elite 92. 2 PFF grade across his last two seasons at Utah makes him a strong candidate for the 13th overall pick. The Baltimore Ravens are in need of more wide receivers outside of Zay Flowers and may select Makai Lemon from USC. Lemon's impressive stats, including winning the Biletnikoff Award this season, make him a valuable addition to the Ravens' lineup. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to add more talent to their defense and may select Sonny Styles, a linebacker from Ohio State. Styles' impressive stats, including being one of only six linebackers in the nation to earn 85. 0-plus grades both in coverage and in run defense, make him a strong candidate for the 16th overall pick.The Detroit Lions are looking to bolster their offensive line and may select Francis Mauigoa from Miami. Mauigoa's impressive stats, including an 86. 4 PFF pass-blocking grade and 78. 4 PFF run-blocking grade, make him a valuable addition to the Lions' lineup. The Minnesota Vikings are in need of more talent in their secondary and may select Avieon Terrell, a cornerback from Clemson. Terrell's impressive stats, including posting 80. 0-plus PFF grades in each of the last two seasons, make him a strong candidate for the 18th overall pick. The Carolina Panthers are looking to bolster their pass rush and may select Cashius Howell, an edge rusher from Texas A&M. Howell's impressive stats, including 12 sacks this year, make him a valuable addition to the Panthers' lineup. The Dallas Cowboys are looking to add more talent to their defense and may select C. J. Allen, a linebacker from Georgia. Allen's impressive stats, including an 88. 6 PFF run-defense grade, make him a strong candidate for the 20th overall pick. The Pittsburgh Steelers are in need of a new quarterback and may select Ty Simpson from Alabama. Simpson's impressive stats, including 30 big-time throws this season, make him a valuable addition to the Steelers' lineup. The Los Angeles Chargers are looking to bolster their offensive line and may select Olaivavega Ioane from Penn State. Ioane's impressive stats, including not allowing a sack or hit across 297 pass-blocking snaps, make him a strong candidate for the 22nd overall pick. The Philadelphia Eagles are in need of a new tight end and may select Kenyon Sadiq from Oregon. Sadiq's impressive stats, including leading all FBS tight ends with eight receiving touchdowns this season, make him a valuable addition to the Eagles' lineup. The Cleveland Browns are looking to add more talent to their offensive line and may select Kadyn Proctor from Alabama. Proctor's impressive stats, including being one of seven offensive tackles in college football with 80. 0-plus grades as a pass blocker and run blocker, make him a strong candidate for the 24th overall pick. The Chicago Bears are looking to bolster their defensive line and may select Kayden McDonald, a defensive tackle from Ohio State. McDonald's impressive stats, including leading all interior defenders with a 91. 2 PFF run-defense grade, make him a valuable addition to the Bears' lineup. The Buffalo Bills are in need of more talent in their receiving corps and may select Denzel Boston, a wide receiver from Washington. Boston's impressive stats, including an 87. 6 PFF grade, make him a strong candidate for the 26th overall pick. The San Francisco 49ers are looking to add more talent to their receiving corps and may select KC Concepcion, a wide receiver from Texas A&M. Concepcion's impressive stats, including being a dangerous player after the catch, make him a valuable addition to the 49ers' lineup. The Houston Texans are looking to bolster their offensive line and may select Caleb Lomu from Utah. Lomu's impressive stats, including an 82. 1 PFF pass-blocking grade and no sacks allowed across 357 pass-blocking snaps, make him a strong candidate for the 28th overall pick. The Los Angeles Rams are looking to add more talent to their secondary and may select Brandon Cisse, a cornerback from South Carolina. Cisse's impressive stats, including breaking up seven passes this year, make him a valuable addition to the Rams' lineup. The New England Patriots are looking to bolster their defense and may select T. J. Parker, an edge rusher from Clemson. Parker's impressive stats, including a 90. 1 career PFF grade, make him a strong candidate for the 30th overall pick. The Denver Broncos are looking to add more talent to their linebacker unit and may select Anthony Hill Jr. , a linebacker from Texas. Hill's impressive stats, including being an effective run defender, pass-rusher, and coverage player, make him a valuable addition to the Broncos' lineup. The Seattle Seahawks are looking to bolster their secondary and may select Colton Hood, a cornerback from Tennessee. Hood's impressive stats make him a strong candidate for the 32nd overall pick.