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Lance Zierlein 2026 NFL mock draft 4.0: Jeremiyah Love cracks top 3; Cowboys trade up for Arvell Reese

As we hurtle toward the 2026 NFL Draft this week in Pittsburgh, here is my fourth and final forecast of the opening 32 picks. I'm projecting four trades on Thursday night, with the Cowboys making a significant splash in the top 10 and the Jets ultimately taking a third bite at the first-round apple.

Programming note: Tune in for live coverage of Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft beginning at 8 p.m. ET on April 23 on NFL Network, 麻豆国产, the NFL Channel, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

Pick
1
Fernando Mendoza
Indiana · QB · Junior (RS)

Mendoza has the opportunity to take in advice from Tom Brady and learn from Kirk Cousins as he grows into the "face of the franchise" role in Las Vegas.

Pick
2
David Bailey
Texas Tech · Edge · Senior

The Jets go with the here-and-now pass rusher over the potential of Arvell Reese. Bailey attacks the pocket like a slashing guard on the basketball court.

Pick
3
Jeremiyah Love
Notre Dame · RB · Junior

It turns out the late smoke comes from a fire. If the Cardinals can't trade the pick, they stick and take their best available, regardless of positional value.

Pick
4
Sonny Styles
Ohio State · LB · Senior

Tennessee could take Arvell Reese but instead opts for his Ohio State teammate. Styles is the type of versatile, traits-based linebacker that new head coach Robert Saleh covets.

Pick
5
Caleb Downs
Ohio State · S · Junior

John Harbaugh values the safety position and is looking to create a strong culture in the building. Downs makes plenty of sense here for the Giants.

Pick
6
Arvell Reese
Ohio State · LB/Edge · Junior

PROJECTED TRADE WITH BROWNS


Reese's slide comes to an end, as the Cowboys jump up and try to hit another home run with a linebacker/edge hybrid who has a chance to light up quarterbacks with his rush.

Pick
7
Carnell Tate
Ohio State · WR · Junior

The Ohio State run continues with a fourth straight Buckeye flying off the board. The Jayden Daniels hype has cooled down after an injury-riddled sophomore campaign, but giving the quarterback a premium running mate for Terry McLaurin (another Buckeye!) could heat the offense back up again.

Pick
8
Jordyn Tyson
Arizona State · WR · Junior (RS)

There is a chance Tyson goes earlier than this, but if he's still available, the Saints could have an easy selection, giving Tyler Shough a second legitimate weapon alongside resurgent receiver Chris Olave.

Pick
9
Mansoor Delane
LSU · CB · Senior

Pass rusher and right tackle are obviously in play here, but cornerback is also a clear need in Kansas City. Following the departures of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, the Chiefs pounce on the draft's top cover man with their initial first-round pick.

Pick
10
New York Giants
(via CIN)
Francis Mauigoa
Miami · OL · Junior

With their second top-10 pick, the Giants take the first offensive lineman. Mauigoa is a pedigreed prospect who should offer high-level guard/tackle flexibility.

Pick
11
Rueben Bain Jr.
Miami · Edge · Junior

The Dolphins have so many top-100 picks that they could easily jump up in this draft and target a preferred prospect. If they sit tight and Bain is still available at No. 11, it's a perfect match, with the local product staying in Miami.

Pick
12
Spencer Fano
Utah · OL · Junior

PROJECTED TRADE WITH COWBOYS


Fano is the most position-versatile offensive lineman in this draft. He played both tackle spots at Utah, and the arm-length concerns are mitigated by his advanced timing and hand usage.

Pick
13
Monroe Freeling
Georgia · OT · Junior

We've all been mocking receivers here throughout the pre-draft process, but the reality is that Les Snead and Sean McVay typically find wideouts later in the draft. It's much tougher to obtain a starting-caliber tackle beyond Round 1, and longtime RT Rob Havenstein retired in February.

Pick
14
Olaivavega Ioane
Penn State · OG · Junior (RS)

One of the easiest picks to make in this exercise. Ioane immediately boosts the Ravens' run game by plugging right into an interior offensive line that needs help.

Pick
15
Kenyon Sadiq
Oregon · TE · Junior

Tampa Bay could go edge rusher in this spot. Instead, I have the Bucs grabbing this draft's consensus TE1. Sadiq gives Baker Mayfield a unique weapon to exploit.

Pick
16
New York Jets
(via IND)
Makai Lemon
USC · WR · Junior

The Jets need another receiver to complement Garrett Wilson. My comp for Lemon is Amon-Ra St. Brown, a gritty pass catcher whom Aaron Glenn is quite familiar with.

Pick
17
Kadyn Proctor
Alabama · OT · Junior

After parting ways with longtime LT Taylor Decker, Detroit can replace him with Proctor or move Penei Sewell to the blind side and have the rookie take over at RT. Proctor is average in pass protection, but the gargantuan Alabama product is a bulldozing people-mover in the run game.

Pick
18
Dillon Thieneman
Oregon · S · Junior

The Vikings could be interested in Jermod McCoy, depending on how team doctors view the cornerback's medicals after he missed the entire 2025 campaign with a torn ACL. That said, the easy pick here is a direct replacement for franchise icon Harrison Smith.

Pick
19
KC Concepcion
Texas A&M · WR · Junior

The Panthers are looking for more firepower, and Concepcion gives them just that as a slippery slot receiver who is hard to check in man coverage.

Pick
20
Jermod McCoy
Tennessee · CB · Junior

From what I hear, most teams expect McCoy's knee to be fine in the long term. Dallas makes a play for the future, adding a high-upside prospect with CB1 potential when he's healthy.

Pick
21
Denzel Boston
Washington · WR · Junior (RS)

PROJECTED TRADE WITH STEELERS


Cleveland has more than enough draft capital to move around the board, so why not hop up a few spots and nab a big, competitive ball-winner?

Pick
22
Akheem Mesidor
Miami · Edge · Senior

Mesidor is ready to fit right into a pass-rush rotation, and he can take over a starting spot if Khalil Mack exits stage next offseason.

Pick
23
Caleb Lomu
Utah · OT · Sophomore (RS)

Blake Miller is a consistent target here for mock drafters, but Lomu is younger, has higher upside in pass protection and can play swing tackle in Year 1 as he learns from Lane Johnson.

Pick
24
Keldric Faulk
Auburn · Edge · Junior

PROJECTED TRADE WITH BROWNS (PICK ORIGINALLY OWNED BY JAGUARS)


After acquiring more draft capital by moving back, the Steelers add a young, high-character prospect who is still growing his frame and his game. Faulk will be able to play in odd or even fronts in the future.

Pick
25
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Toledo · S · Senior

Safeties Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker and C.J. Gardner-Johnson all left Chicago in free agency. While the Bears did sign Coby Bryant, he needs a partner at the position. McNeil-Warren is a thumper with spectacular size and the ability to align in a variety of spots.

Pick
26
Blake Miller
Clemson · OT · Senior

PROJECTED TRADE WITH BILLS


Everyone expects Arizona to jump back into Round 1 for QB Ty Simpson. Instead, the Cardinals move up for the most experienced starting tackle in the entire draft.

Pick
27
Omar Cooper Jr.
Indiana · WR · Junior (RS)

San Francisco selects a receiver with excellent run-after-catch ability and above-average vertical speed.

Pick
28
Colton Hood
Tennessee · CB · Sophomore (RS)

PROJECTED TRADE WITH TEXANS


Boasting extensive draft capital, the Jets jump up a few spots from No. 33 to land a starting cornerback.

Pick
29
Malachi Lawrence
UCF · Edge · Senior

Lawrence gives the Chiefs an explosive edge rusher with good hands and a variety of moves that allow him to torment the pocket.

Pick
30
Miami Dolphins
(via DEN)
Chris Johnson
San Diego State · CB · Senior

The Dolphins sit tight once again and grab the highest-rated cornerback remaining on the board. Johnson is a smooth, sticky man defender with a mature game.

Pick
31
Peter Woods
Clemson · DT · Junior

Woods provides an instant upgrade to the defensive interior as a rotational player with the tools to improve as a rusher.

Pick
32
Jadarian Price
Notre Dame · RB · Junior (RS)

John Schneider told the media -- no surprise, with Seattle holding a league-low four picks -- but Price makes sense at No. 32, whether the selection is made by the RB-hungry 'Hawks or another team looking to add a talented runner.

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