Free agency did what free agency always does.

It took my last updated 2026 NFL mock draft and blew it up, along with everyone else’s.

A week of spending, panic-buying and roster patchwork reshaped team needs all over the league.

The most recent move hit Tuesday. Denver traded for Jaylen Waddle after Miami decided to hit Ctrl+Z on its roster. The Dolphins now have quite the assortment of premium picks.

With pro days rolling and the draft inching closer, this is what the first three rounds look like after the market’s first big wave.

WHAT’S NEW IN THIS UPDATE

— Three full rounds, including compensatory picks

— Updated team needs across the league

— Washington grabs a wide receiver at No. 7

— Rams take a wide receiver at No. 13

— Jeremiyah Love lands in the top five

— Dolphins select a safety and wide receiver in Round 1

— Jacob Rodriguez climbs into the top 20

MOCK PREAMBLE

This is an attempt at figuring out the best players available in this season’s draft class, and which teams they’d match up well with considering the current draft order courtesy of NFL.com. The closer we get to draft day, the more I’ll attempt to match what teams will actually do with their draft picks as opposed to what I believe they should do.

According to The Huddle Report, I was the second-most accurate NFL draft prognosticator in print last season. I tied for first overall (out of 172) covering a five-year period between 2019 and 2023.

Considering the NFL doesn’t have an offseason, the draft has become the Super Bowl of the league’s second season, and a mock version of said draft is meant to educate, perhaps even entertain. At very least, it helps you pass the time.

Agree? Hate it? Think your team just got robbed? Follow along on X (formerly known as Twitter) @UTEddieBrown and let’s argue about the board like civilized adults.

FIRST ROUND

1. Las Vegas (3-14) — Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana, Jr.

Mendoza wins with command, accuracy, red-zone efficiency and grown-man composure. Top needs: QB, WR, DT

2. N.Y. Jets (3-14) — Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State, Jr.

The 6-foot-4, 243-pound uber-athletic Reese is a modern defensive problem-solver: long, explosive, versatile and productive enough to justify the hype. Top needs: QB, CB, WR

3. Arizona (3-14) — Francis Mauigoa, T, Miami, Jr.

Speed and counter rushers will test Mauigoa’s feet and timing, but the baseline traits scream long-term starter, whether he stays at tackle or eventually slides inside. Top needs: QB, OL, DL

4. Tennessee (3-14) — Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame, Jr.

Love is built for volume (6-foot, 214 pounds) and versatility with three-down traits (vision, finish, receiving upside). He’s my No. 1 overall player in this draft. Top needs: WR, Edge, LT

5. N.Y. Giants (4-13) — Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State, Sr.

Styles delivered one of the most outrageous athletic profiles scouts have seen in years at the Combine. At 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds, he ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash with a 1.56 split, then posted a 43 1/2-inch vertical and an 11-foot-2 broad jump. Top needs: WR, DT, G

6. Cleveland (5-12) — David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech, Sr.

The selling point is simple: Bailey gets to quarterbacks, and he does it a lot. Top needs: QB, Edge, WR

7. Washington (5-12) — Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State, Jr.

Tate’s tape says he is fast enough. He’s a week-to-week separator who should translate as a high-volume NFL target. Top needs: Edge, WR, RB

8. New Orleans (6-11) — Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami, Jr.

Bain’s lack of ideal length is real, and it will scare off some teams. But the resume, disruption and polish are also real. Top needs: WR, DT, CB

9. Kansas City (6-11) — Spencer Fano, T, Utah, Jr.

Fano’s ceiling debate comes down to length/anchor vs. NFL power, but his floor is high because the pass-pro foundation is real. Top needs: CB, Edge, RT

10. Cincinnati (6-11) — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU, Sr.

Delane doesn’t have elite size (5-11, 187) or deep speed, but he’s sticky, instinctual and can play multiple positions in the secondary. Top needs: DT, CB, WR

11. Miami (7-10) — Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State, Jr.

Downs plays like he’s on the headset with the coordinator. He’s a glue-piece safety who raises a defense’s floor immediately. Top needs: WR, Edge, CB

12. Dallas (7-9-1) — TJ Parker, Edge, Clemson, Jr.

Parker’s bull rush is devastating and he’s already a solid run defender. Top needs: Edge, LB, NB

13. L.A. Rams from Atlanta (8-9) — Makai Lemon, WR, USC, Jr.

Lemon already wins like a pro. He varies tempo, understands leverage, and wastes very little movement in and out of breaks. Top needs: WR, RT, Edge

14. Baltimore (8-9) — Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State, Jr.

Because Tyson didn’t test at the Combine and because injury history is already part of the profile, team doctors are going to have a louder voice than usual in his final grade. He could slip further despite the massive talent. Top needs: C, WR, CB

15. Tampa Bay (8-9) — Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon, Jr.

Sadiq is a legitimate field-stretcher who can line up attached, in the slot, split out wide, or in the backfield, which gives play-callers real flexibility. Top needs: Edge, LB, G

16. N.Y. Jets from Indianapolis (8-9) — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee, Jr.

If the medicals check out and the movement looks right at his pro day (March 31), McCoy’s the type of talent who usually goes in the top half of the first round. Top needs: QB, CB, WR

17. Detroit (9-8) — Monroe Freeling, T, Georgia, Jr.

He needs polish, but Freeling is a classic traits-plus-SEC-production tackle prospect: long, explosive and athletic enough to make coaches believe they can unlock something big. Top needs: T, Edge, LB

18. Minnesota (9-8) — Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon, Jr.

Thieneman is a do-it-all safety with verified NFL athleticism, real ball production and enough versatility to be a coordinator’s favorite toy. Top needs: DT, CB, SS

19. Carolina (8-9) — Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson, Jr.

Terrell is a much better run defender than his brother A.J. — former first-round pick of the Falcons — despite being a bit undersized (5-10 3/4, 186). Top needs: WR, NB. DT

20. Dallas from Green Bay (9-7-1) — Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech, Sr.

He will be a 24-year-old rookie, but Rodriguez is a turnover-hunting, highly instinctive enforcer with monster production, elite 2025 PFF grades, and he answered all big athletic questions at the combine. Top needs: Edge, LB, NB

21. Pittsburgh (10-7) — Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State, Jr.

Ioane’s the kind of interior presence that changes your run game personality, while featuring impressive movement skills for a man his size (6-4, 330). Top needs: QB, LG, LB

22. L.A. Chargers (11-6) — Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami, Sr.

Mesidor is a productive, polished, hard-nosed edge rusher whose tape is built on actual pass-rush craft instead of empty athletic fantasy. Top needs: Edge, LB, FS

23. Philadelphia (11-6) — Caleb Lomu, T, Utah, So.

Lomu is a high-upside left tackle prospect with real athleticism, clean pass-protection production, and the kind of awareness coaches can work with. Top needs: T, Edge, WR

24. Cleveland from Jacksonville (13-4) — Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama, Jr.

Simpson only has 15 collegiate starts to go off of, but the small sample size shows he is a poised, accurate, mechanically clean QB who wins with processing, rhythm and pocket control more than raw star-power traits. Top needs: QB, Edge, WR

25. Chicago (11-6) — Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State, Jr.

McDonald is a stout run defender who can hold the point and keep your linebackers clean. Top needs: Edge, DT, WR (slot)

26. Buffalo (12-5) — Denzel Boston, WR, Washington, Jr.

Boston (6-3, 212) is a big-bodied, strong-handed, red-zone-friendly outside receiver with real production and better route nuance than a lot of receivers built like him. Top needs: LB, Edge, WR

27. San Francisco (12-5) — Blake Miller, T, Clemson, Sr.

Miller is the rare four-year ironman tackle prospect who checks the NFL’s favorite boxes in permanent marker: size, length, anchor, awareness, durability. Top needs: T, LG, WR (slot)

28. Houston (12-5) — Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn, Jr.

Faulk flashes high-end tools, and his draft slot will hinge on whether he shows a repeatable rush plan and scouts believe he can consistently finish. Top needs: RB, Edge, FS

29. Kansas City from L.A. Rams (12-5) — Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee, So.

Hood is a fiery, aggressive press corner who features the size (6-0, 193), speed and physicality to make plays in a man-heavy scheme. Top needs: CB, Edge, RT

30. Miami from Denver (14-3) — KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M, Jr.

Concepcion is a space creator, but he’ll need help versus physical press. Still, as a slot weapon/return threat he brings immediate value. Top needs: WR, Edge, CB

31. New England (14-3) — Kadyn Proctor, T, Alabama, Jr.

Proctor is a mountain with real upside: when he’s square and engaged, he swallows defenders. Top needs: WR, T, TE

32. Seattle (14-3) — Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State, Sr.

Johnson is a smooth, instinctive outside corner who pairs sticky coverage with real ball production. He wins with patience, press ability, and enough athletic juice to erase mistakes. Top needs: RB, RG, Edge

SECOND ROUND

33. N.Y. Jets — Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana, Jr.

34. Arizona — Peter Woods, DT, Clemson, Jr.

35. Tennessee — Max Iheanachor, T, Arizona State, Sr.

36. Las Vegas — Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M, Sr.

37. N.Y. Giants — Christen Miller, DL, Georgia, Jr.

38. Houston from Washington — Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame, Jr.

39. Cleveland — Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama, Sr.

40. Kansas City — Caleb Banks, DL, Florida, Sr.

41. Cincinnati — Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech, Sr.

42. New Orleans — Chris Bell, WR, Louisville, Sr.

43. Miami — Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina, Jr.

44. N.Y. Jets from Dallas — Emmanuel Pregnon, OL, Oregon, Sr.

45. Baltimore — Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State, Jr.

46. Tampa Bay — CJ Allen, LB, Georgia, Jr.

47. Indianapolis — Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas, Jr.

Hill is a rare athlete at linebacker with true range and matchup value. He can be a modern defensive weapon. Top needs: Edge, LB, S

48. Atlanta — Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia, Jr.

Branch is a twitchy, explosive, space-destroying playmaker who wins with speed, suddenness and return-game electricity. Top needs: WR, T, CB

49. Minnesota — Gracen Halton, DL, Oklahoma, Sr.

50. Detroit — Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois, Sr.

51. Carolina — Zane Durant, DT, Penn State, Sr.

52. Green Bay — Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State, Sr.

Dennis-Sutton is a classic edge export from the Nittany Lions: big, long, violent hands and a built-in motor. Top needs: DT, Edge, CB

53. Pittsburgh — Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh, Jr.

54. Philadelphia — R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma, Sr.

55. L.A. Chargers — Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati, Sr.

Golday has size at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, tested like a real athlete in Indianapolis, and plays with the sort of downhill violence that makes inside runs feel like a bad idea. Top needs: Edge, LB, FS

56. Jacksonville — Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF, Sr.

Lawrence is an explosive, high-motor edge with three-year sack consistency and verified athletic traits. Top needs: Edge, FS, G

57. Chicago — Derrick Moore, Edge, Michigan, Sr.

58. San Francisco — Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo, Sr.

59. Houston — Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona, Sr.

60. Chicago from Buffalo — Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson, Jr.

61. L.A. Rams — Gennings Dunker, OL, Iowa, Sr.

Dunker is a powerful, nasty, Iowa-forged O-lineman who wins with brute force and leverage. Top needs: WR, RT, Edge

62. Denver — Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt, Sr.

Stowers is a modern NFL tight end: matchup-driven, explosive, and production-proven. His performance at the combine likely added helium to his draft stock — a 4.51 40 paired with a tight end vertical jump record (45 1/2-inches). Top needs: DT, FS, RB

63. New England — Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee, Sr.

64. Seattle — Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas, Sr.

THIRD ROUND

65. Arizona — Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU, Sr.

66. Tennessee — Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma, Sr.

67. Las Vegas — Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana, Sr.

68. Philadelphia from N.Y. Jets — Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina, Jr.

69. Houston from N.Y. Giants — Chase Bisontis, OL, Texas A&M, Jr.

70. Cleveland — D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana, Jr.

71. Washington — Zion Young, Edge, Missouri, Sr.

72. Cincinnati — Jalen Farmer, G, Kentucky, Jr.

73. New Orleans — Keionte Scott, CB, Miami, Sr.

74. Kansas City — Romello Height, Edge, Texas Tech, Sr.

75. Miami — Jaishawn Barham, Edge, Michigan, Sr.

76. Pittsburgh from Dallas — Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State, Sr.

77. Tampa Bay — Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech, Sr.

78. Indianapolis — AJ Haulcy, S, LSU, Sr.

79. Atlanta — Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke, Sr.

80. Baltimore — Logan Jones, C, Iowa, Sr.

81. Jacksonville from Detroit — Genesis Smith, S, Arizona, Jr.

82. Minnesota — Tacario Davis, CB, Washington, Sr.

83. Carolina — Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State, Sr.

84. Green Bay — Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri, Sr.

85. Pittsburgh — Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State, Sr.

86. L.A. Chargers — Bud Clark, S, TCU, Sr.

Clark is a rangy, ball-hawking safety with verified athleticism and a long trail of quarterbacks who learned the hard way. Top needs: Edge, LB, FS

87. Miami from Philadelphia — Max Klare, TE, Ohio State, Jr.

88. Jacksonville — Caleb Tiernan, T, Northwestern, Sr.

89. Chicago — Keyron Crawford, Edge, Auburn, Sr.

90. Miami from Houston — Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State, Sr.

91. Buffalo — Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri, So.

92. Dallas from San Francisco — Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State, Sr.

93. L.A. Rams — Joshua Josephs, Edge, Tennessee, Sr.

Josephs isn’t a finished product, but he’s exactly the kind of traits-and-motor rusher who becomes a problem once a D-line coach gives him a real plan. Top needs: WR, RT, Edge

94. Miami from Denver — Skyler Bell, WR, Connecticut, Sr.

95. New England — Justin Joly, TE, NC State, Sr.

96. Seattle — LT Overton, Edge, Alabama, Sr.

97. Minnesota (compensatory) — Zxavian Harris, DT, Ole Miss, Sr.

98. Philadelphia (compensatory) — Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame, Sr.

99. Pittsburgh (compensatory) — Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama, Sr.

100. Jacksonville from Detroit (compensatory) — Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&M, Sr.

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