NFL Mock Draft 2026: Edition 4

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

1. Las Vegas Raiders

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

An impending April 1 Pro Day is a mere formality at this point in the pre-Draft process for Fernando Mendoza. There's little question the reigning Heisman winner and National Champion will add No. 1 overall pick to his resume in late April. The Raiders have already been hard at work on surrounding Mendoza with the right pieces, signing center Tyler Linderbaum to the highest contract for a center in NFL history.

Previous Selection: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Other Possibility: N/A

2. New York Jets

Arvell Reese, DE/LB, Ohio State

Fernando Mendoza has been perched as a lock to the Raiders for some time now, and it appears Arvell Reese may be approaching that lock status second overall to the Jets. The Ohio State defender has wowed NFL folks throughout the pre-Draft process, and looks to be the missing piece in a retooled New York defense. 

Previous Selection: Arvell Reese, DE/LB, Ohio State

Other Possibility: David Bailey, DE/LB, Texas Tech

3. Arizona Cardinals

Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)

2026 is going to be all about tanking for the Cardinals. They're fine throwing in the towel on the year and hopefully having their choice of a loaded 2027 quarterback class. Drafting Francis Mauigoa here provides them a long-term anchor at tackle they need to protect whoever ends up being the guy in 2027 and beyond.

Previous Selection: David Bailey, DE/LB, Texas Tech

Other Possibility: David Bailey, DE/LB, Texas Tech

4. Tennessee Titans

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

2026 NCAA Tournament Bracket Analysis: South Region

 

Boogie Fland, Florida

The Top Seed: Florida Gators

For the first time in program history, the Florida Gators are a No. 1 seed in back-to-back years of the NCAA Tournament. That's right, not even during the Billy Donovan years were the Gators a top seed in consecutive seasons, a testament to the work Todd Golden has done in Gainesville. Needless to say, the quest for a second straight National Title is alive and well after the Gators went 26-7 overall and 16-2 in the SEC. This team has a different feel than last year's group - they don't quite have the big shotmakers they did season with Walter Clayton Jr., but few in the country can match this frontcourt. Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon are an elite forward combo, and big man Rueben Chinyelu may be the team's MVP. His constant activity around the rim and rebounding prowess consistently allow Florida to extend possessions and capitalize on double chance opportunities. Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee may not have the star power of the backcourt from last winter, but they're capable, efficient guards who have played a lot of college basketball. There's a lot of ingredients to like about this team here, and the path isn't brutal. They may have the weakest 4/5 grouping of any region potentially awaiting them in the Sweet 16, so an Elite Eight berth at the very least feels like it's in play. Yet, after the run last season when you simply could not count out the Gators, even greater things are certainly in play.

Don't Forget About: Vanderbilt Commodores

Sure, I may not think this is the best 4/5 grouping in the field, but Vanderbilt is a much better team than the average fan may realize. Head coach Mark Byington inherited a mess when he took over in Nashville when he took over prior to the 2024-25 campaign. The Commodores had not played in March since 2017, and the end to the Bryce Drew and Jerry Stackhouse years were rough. In short order, Byington has built this team into a legitimate SEC contender, and it shows with their five-seed billing. This is a dangerous offensive team, one that averages over 86 points per contest, and they're led by one of the nation's most underrated players in Tyler Tanner. The sophomore has evolved from a bench option as a freshman into the roster's centerpiece, leading the Commodores in scoring, assists, and field goal percentage. Tanner's ability to get into the paint and open up space for the rest of the offense is a hallmark of the Byington system. What you'll notice watching this team is just how movement and activity there is, which creates a real headache for defenses over the course of 40 minutes. The path to the second weekend is clear, a feat Vanderbilt hasn't accomplished in two decades. This year's McNeese is not last year's McNeese, and a Nebraska/Troy matchup in the second round seems to bode well for the Commodores. 

The Storyline Team: Nebraska Cornhuskers

2026 NCAA Tournament Bracket Analysis: East Region

Cam Boozer, Duke

The Top Seed: Duke Blue Devils

In four seasons at the helm of his alma mater, Jon Scheyer has already built an impressive resume. He's established himself as arguably the premier recruiter in college basketball today, gone 121-24 total, and won a handful of ACC Titles. Yet, despite getting deeper into the NCAA Tournament each year in the role, he's still searching for that first National Title. This feels like it could be the team to win one with, which would be the first in Durham in over a decade. The roster has it all - the legacy superstar destined to be a top three pick this upcoming summer in the NBA Draft (Cam Boozer), the elite complementary scorers in Isaiah Evans and Caleb Foster, and the gigantic post in Patrick Ngongba II. This Duke team feels like more of a complete team than last year's group, which came agonizingly close to playing for a National Title before a stunning collapse to Houston. If there are two causes for concern Scheyer and company will be out to prove wrong this March? There are significant injuries on the roster, with Foster and Ngongba both missing the ACC Tournament with separate foot problems. There's positive signs Ngongba will be back for their first NCAA Tournament game, but Foster's status is more up in the air. Cayden Boozer performed admirably in Foster's place during the ACC Tournament, but this is a much better team when Foster is on the court. Secondly, despite being the top overall seed, the Blue Devils really didn't receive that favorable of a draw in this region. Consider the coaches they will likely need to overcome if they want to come out of the East: Rick Pitino or Bill Self, Tom Izzo, and Dan Hurley. This is going to be a real test for Scheyer to prove his coaching chops, and that he's truly elevated the program since Coach K's farewell.

I'm Buying Stock: St. John's Red Storm

St. John's entered the 2025-26 campaign with their highest preseason ranking in five decades, which just so happened to be the year the Red Storm played in the Final Four. Given the lofty expectations, it wasn't a major surprise they took some lumps early, losing in the non-conference to the likes of Iowa State, Auburn, Alabama, and Kentucky. Yet, since entering Big East, few teams in the nation have been more impressive than Rick Pitino's club. They took the Big East regular season crown from UConn and then topped it off by winning the conference tournament, with a dominant win over the Huskies being quite the statement to send the team into the NCAA Tournament riding high. Despite that finish is did come as a surprise to see the Red Storm on the 5-line, likely the result of a tough non-conference and the weakest Big East we've seen in years. You better believe Pitino is going to be using that as an extra bit of motivation, bad news for whoever they meet up with in this East Region. This is the type of team you absolutely don't want to see in March already. They have star power, a clear identity, and will play a full 40 minutes of physical, punishing basketball. Even if you find a way to beat them, they're such a pain, they leave you so battered and bruised you likely lose the next. I love the draw here to get to the Sweet 16, and believe they're the greatest test to Duke inside the region. If that game does indeed happen, that may as well be the regional final, determining who comes out of the East.

Welcome to the Dance: Cal Baptist Lancers

Final 2025-26 Big Ten Basketball Superlatives

Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska

Final Power Rankings

1. Michigan Wolverines

(Previous Rank: 1)

2. Illinois Fighting Illini

(Previous Rank: 2)

3. Nebraska Cornhuskers

(Previous Rank: 3)

4. Michigan State Spartans

(Previous Rank: 4)

5. Wisconsin Badgers

(Previous Rank: 6)

NFL Mock Draft 2026: Edition 3 (Combine Edition)

Arvell Reese, Ohio State 

 1. Las Vegas Raiders

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

The Combine may have thrown much of the first round into disarray, but there's no question at the top. Fernando Mendoza didn't even work out in Indianapolis, but still remains the heavy favorite to be the No. 1 overall off the board in late April. It's starting to feel more like a question of what else the Raiders will do to surround Mendoza with the right pieces than whether the reigning Heisman winner will be on his way to Las Vegas.

2. New York Jets

Arvell Reese, DE/LB, Ohio State

Things get interesting with the Jets at the No. 2 spot. Their most obvious need remains quarterback, but there's nobody in this range that makes sense. So instead, pass rusher seems to be the consensus selection here, with Arvell Reese, David Bailey, and Rueben Bain Jr. the top candidates. Bailey was a sack machine at Texas Tech, but to me, Reese has the higher ceiling in what he can be as a pro. It's no surprise to me the Buckeye product had a superb Combine - he's a physical freak who still has time grow into his 6'4", 240-pound frame.

3. Arizona Cardinals

David Bailey, DE/LB, Texas Tech

It's an important offseason for the Cardinals, who have to find a way forward in an NFC West that includes three of not only the best teams in the conference, but the NFL. Offensive line is in consideration here, but it's hard to imagine Arizona being able to pass up a player like David Bailey in this spot. Bailey was the most dominant rusher in all of the land this past fall, notching 14.5 sacks, 19.5 TFL, and a 20.2% pressure percentage for the Red Raiders.

4. Tennessee Titans

Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami (FL)