LAS VEGAS — The confetti hasn’t even hit the turf for Super Bowl LX, but the Las Vegas Raiders are arguably already on the clock. In a move that feels destined, NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks just dropped his Mock Draft 1.0, and he’s not wasting time with surprises at the top. The pick? The man who just engineered the most improbable 16-0 run in college football history.
The Top 10: Precision, Power, and Playmakers
Brooks’ first mock of the 2026 cycle doesn’t just list names; it blueprints the immediate future of the league’s struggling franchises. Here is the heat check on the top picks.
1. Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)
The Raiders didn’t hesitate. After leading Indiana to a historic National Championship and capturing the 2025 Heisman Trophy, Mendoza is the undisputed QB1. He shredded defenses for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns last season against a measly six picks. Vegas needs a savior, and Mendoza brings a winning pedigree that turned a perennial underdog into a juggernaut.
2. New York Jets – LB Arvell Reese (Ohio State)
Defensive minded head coaches dream of players like Reese. The Ohio State linebacker was a heat-seeking missile in 2025, racking up 69 tackles and 6.5 sacks. He doesn’t just tackle; he erases ball carriers. The Jets need violence in the middle of that defense, and Reese delivers it on every snap.
3. Arizona Cardinals – OT Spencer Fano (Utah)
Kyler Murray spent too much of 2025 running for his life. Brooks mocks Spencer Fano here to stop the bleeding. The Outland Trophy finalist started 35 games for the Utes, bringing a nasty streak to the trenches that Arizona desperately lacks. This is a “keep your QB upright” selection.
4. Tennessee Titans – WR Carnell Tate (Ohio State)
Cam Ward needs weapons. Enter Carnell Tate. Ohio State continues its reign as “Wide Receiver U,” producing yet another polished perimeter threat. Tate snagged 51 balls for 875 yards last year, proving he can separate at the top of the route against elite Big Ten corners.
5. New York Giants – OT Francis Mauigoa (Miami)
Big Blue goes big. Francis Mauigoa is a 6-foot-6, 335-pound road grader who anchored Miami’s run to the title game. The Giants’ offensive line has been a turnstile for years; Mauigoa plugs that hole instantly.
6. Cleveland Browns – OT Caleb Lomu (Utah)
Utah’s offensive line factory gets its second nod in the top six. Lomu is a technician. He started every game at left tackle in 2025, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors. Cleveland needs stability, and Lomu offers a decade of it.
7. Washington Commanders – WR Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State)
Washington grabs the draft’s most electric playmaker. Jordyn Tyson didn’t just play receiver; he was the entire Sun Devil offense at times. With 2,282 career yards and 22 touchdowns, he brings the kind of “score from anywhere” ability that keeps defensive coordinators up at night.
8. New Orleans Saints – EDGE David Bailey (Texas Tech)
With Cam Jordan aging out, the Saints need a new pass-rush primer. David Bailey is a chaos agent. The Texas Tech star posted ridiculous numbers: 18.0 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. He fits the Saints’ mold of long, explosive edge defenders perfectly.
9. Kansas City Chiefs – RB Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame)
The rich get richer. Kansas City finally addresses the backfield with the draft’s premier runner. Love rushed for 1,372 yards and found the paint 18 times. Putting him next to Patrick Mahomes feels unfair to the rest of the AFC West.
10. Cincinnati Bengals – S Caleb Downs (Ohio State)
The Bengals close out the top 10 by stealing the best defensive back on the board. Downs has been a star since his freshman days at Alabama before winning it all with the Buckeyes. His stat line—68 tackles, two picks, and a sack—only tells half the story. He is the quarterback of the defense.
“He sees things before they happen. You watch the film, and it’s like he has the defensive coordinator’s call sheet in his wristband. That’s not just talent; that’s preparation.” — Curt Cignetti, Indiana Head Coach on Fernando Mendoza
Playoff Implications
If these picks hold, the AFC West shifts dramatically. The Raiders landing Mendoza gives them a legitimate face of the franchise to rival Mahomes and Herbert. Meanwhile, the Chiefs adding a bell-cow back like Jeremiyah Love suggests they are pivoting to a more balanced, clock-controlling offense to preserve their defense. For the NFC, the Giants and Cardinals investing heavily in the trenches signals a shift away from “skill position panic” toward building sustainable, physical identities.
