Cody Carpentier’s 2026 NFL Mock Draft with Trades
NFL Free Agency is in the rearview mirror, and the Calendar just turned to April, there is no better time than today to drop a NEW Mock Draft, this time just one round w/Trades. I will have a 2-Round Mock Draft next week, followed by our final Mock Drafts the night before the 2026 NFL Draft, Live from Pittsburgh.
The NFL has become a year-round league, from the season, free agency, the draft, and offseason OTA’s to fall camp, the league never sleeps, and neither do we at RosterWatch. Alex and I finished in the middle of the pack in 2024 for the Huddle Report competition. So it’s back to the drawing boards and time to begin research on the 2026 class not only to improve our mock draft skills but also to enhance our Dynasty Fantasy Football overview.
Round 1 – (Pick 1-32)
No. 1 – Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB – Indiana
No. 2 –New York Jets – Arvell Reese, EDGE – Ohio State
No. 3 – New Orleans Saints (via ARI) – Carnell Tate, WR – Ohio State
In the last three years, Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort has made four trades in Rounds 1 and 2 of the NFL Draft, including a move down from 3rd overall to 12th with Houston, before moving back up to 6 to select Paris Johnson from Ohio State. This time, he adds the 42nd overall selection, most notably.
No. 4 – Tennessee Titans – Jeremiyah Love, RB – Notre Dame
No. 5 – New York Giants – Francis Mauigoa, OL – Miami (FL)
No. 6 – Cleveland Browns – Spencer Fano, OL – Utah
No. 7 – Washington Commanders – David Bailey, EDGE – Texas Tech
No. 8 – Arizona Cardinals (via NO) – Sonny Styles, LB – Ohio State
No. 9 – Kansas City Chiefs – Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE – Miami (FL)
No. 10 – Cincinnati Bengals – Olaivavega Ioane, OL – Penn State
No. 11 – Miami Dolphins – Caleb Downs, S – Ohio State
No. 12 – Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB – LSU
No. 13 – Cleveland Browns (via LAR -> via ATL) – Makai Lemon, WR – USC
The Browns could stay put at pick 24 and hope one of the wide receivers falls to them; however, Los Angeles is one of the most likely teams to trade down in Round 1, and the shoe fits with Cleveland and Slot Monster Makai Lemon.
No. 14 – Baltimore Ravens – Jordyn Tyson, WR – Arizona State
No. 15 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kadyn Proctor, OL – Alabama
No. 16 – New York Jets (via IND) – Jermod McCoy, CB – Tennessee
No. 17 – Detroit Lions – Monroe Freeling, OT – Georgia
No. 18 – Minnesota Vikings – Dillion Thieneman, S – Oregon
No. 19 – Carolina Panthers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE – Oregon
No. 20 – Dallas Cowboys (via GB) – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE – Miami (FL)
No. 21 – Pittsburgh Steelers – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S – Toledo
No. 22 – Arizona Cardinals (via LAC) – Ty Simpson, QB – Alabama
The Final trade in Round 1 comes again from Monti Ossenfort and the Arizona Cardinals, who moved down from Pick 3 to Pick 8. Ossenfort now moves up from 34 to 22 to pick up the future at the Quarterback position for Arizona.
No. 23 – Philadelphia Eagles – Blake Miller, OT – Clemson
No. 24 – Los Angeles Rams (via CLE -> via JAX) – Peter Woods, DT – Clemson
No. 25 – Chicago Bears – Kayden McDonald, DL – Ohio State
No. 26 – Buffalo Bills – Avieon Terrell, CB – Clemson
No. 27 – San Francisco 49ers – Omar Cooper Jr., WR – Indiana
