The 2025 NFL season is not yet over, but many teams are already turning their attention 2026 after being eliminated from postseason contention.
A total of nine teams have been eliminated from the playoff race entering NFL Week 9. Many of those squads will be battling for the No. 1 overall pick, whichthe New York Giants currently possessbut could change hands at will over the final four weeks of the NFL season.
The draft order figures to play a big role in determining how early quarterbacks will come off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft. Players like Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore and Ty Simpson could all end up being high first-round picks, but their draft status may depend on which teams end up selecting early – or if there is a team willing to trade up for a signal-caller.
Here's how the first round of the 2026 NFL draft is looking ahead of the final month of the 2025 season plays out.
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18)makes a catch for a touchdownagainst the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
2026 NFL mock draft roundup: Round 1
Here's what all 32 first-round picks in the NFL draft could look like, according to draft experts from CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus, ESPN and USA TODAY Sports as the 2025 NFL season enters its home stretch.
1. New York Giants
CBS Sports (Josh Edwards): Arvell Reese, edge, Ohio State
Pro Football Focus (Trevor Sikkema): Trade back to No. 9.
Giants select Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State.
ESPN (Field Yates): Trade back to No. 7.
Giants select Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State.
USA TODAY Sports (Ayrton Ostly): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
2. Las Vegas Raiders
CBS Sports: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Pro Football Focus: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
ESPN: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
USA TODAY Sports: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
3. Tennessee Titans
CBS Sports: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Pro Football Focus: Arvell Reese, edge, Ohio State
ESPN: Arvell Reese, edge, Ohio State
USA TODAY Sports: Arvell Reese, edge, Ohio State
4. Cleveland Browns
CBS Sports: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Pro Football Focus: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
ESPN: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
USA TODAY Sports: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
5. New Orleans Saints
CBS Sports: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Pro Football Focus: Rueben Bain, edge, Miami (FL)
ESPN: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
USA TODAY Sports: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
6. Washington Commanders
CBS Sports: Rueben Bain, edge, Miami (FL)
Pro Football Focus: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M
ESPN: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech
USA TODAY Sports: Rueben Bain, edge, Miami (FL)
7. New York Jets
CBS Sports: Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn
Pro Football Focus: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
ESPN: Trade up to No. 1.
Jets select Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
USA TODAY Sports: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
8. Arizona Cardinals
CBS Sports: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Pro Football Focus: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
ESPN: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
USA TODAY Sports: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
9. Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
CBS Sports: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
Pro Football Focus: Trade up to No. 1.
Rams select Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana.
ESPN: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
USA TODAY Sports: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
10. Cincinnati Bengals
CBS Sports: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Pro Football Focus: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
ESPN: Rueben Bain, edge, Miami (FL)
USA TODAY Sports: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
11. Minnesota Vikings
CBS Sports: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Pro Football Focus: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
ESPN: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
USA TODAY Sports: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
12. Miami Dolphins
CBS Sports: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Pro Football Focus: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
ESPN: Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn
USA TODAY Sports: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
13. Baltimore Ravens
CBS Sports: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Pro Football Focus: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
ESPN: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
USA TODAY Sports: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
14. Kansas City Chiefs
CBS Sports: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Pro Football Focus: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
ESPN: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
USA TODAY Sports: Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn
15. Dallas Cowboys
CBS Sports: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Pro Football Focus: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
ESPN: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
USA TODAY Sports: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech
16. Carolina Panthers
CBS Sports: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Pro Football Focus: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
ESPN: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
USA TODAY Sports: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
17. Detroit Lions
CBS Sports: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech
Pro Football Focus: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech
ESPN: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
USA TODAY Sports: Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State
18. New York Jets (via Colts)
CBS Sports: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
Pro Football Focus: Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
ESPN: Pick traded to Giants.
Giants select Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson.
USA TODAY Sports: LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
CBS Sports: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
Pro Football Focus: T.J. Parker, edge, Clemson
ESPN: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
USA TODAY Sports: T.J. Parker, edge, Clemson
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
CBS Sports: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Pro Football Focus: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
ESPN: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
USA TODAY Sports: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
21. Philadelphia Eagles
CBS Sports: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Pro Football Focus: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
ESPN: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
USA TODAY Sports: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
22. Houston Texans
CBS Sports: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
Pro Football Focus: Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State
ESPN: A'Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
USA TODAY Sports: Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama
23. Chicago Bears
CBS Sports: Matayo Uiagalelei, edge, Oregon
Pro Football Focus: A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU
ESPN: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M
USA TODAY Sports: Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
24. Buffalo Bills
CBS Sports: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
Pro Football Focus: Joshua Josephs, edge, Tennessee
ESPN: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
USA TODAY Sports: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
25. Los Angeles Chargers
CBS Sports: Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama
Pro Football Focus: Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama
ESPN: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
USA TODAY Sports: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M
26. San Francisco 49ers
CBS Sports: A'Mauri Washington, DL, Oregon
Pro Football Focus: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
ESPN: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
USA TODAY Sports: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
27. Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
CBS Sports: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Pro Football Focus: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
ESPN: Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama
USA TODAY Sports: Caleb Tiernan, OT Northwestern
28. Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
CBS Sports: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Pro Football Focus: Romello Height, edge, Texas Tech
ESPN: Damon Wilson II, edge, Missouri
USA TODAY Sports: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
29. Seattle Seahawks
CBS Sports: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Pro Football Focus: Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa
ESPN: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
USA TODAY Sports: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
30. New England Patriots
CBS Sports: T.J. Parker, edge, Clemson
Pro Football Focus: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
ESPN: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
USA TODAY Sports: Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee
31. Los Angeles Rams
CBS Sports: Brendan Sorsby, QB, Cincinnati
Pro Football Focus: Pick traded to Giants.
Giants select Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson.
ESPN: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
USA TODAY Sports: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
32. Denver Broncos
CBS Sports: Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State
Pro Football Focus: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
ESPN: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
USA TODAY Sports: LT Overton, edge, Alabama
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:2026 NFL mock draft roundup: Expert Round 1 picks
