Renner's three-round NFL mock draft: A wide-open top 10 becomes a case study in positional value

I can't remember a year with a more in-flux top 10. Arguably 20 players could realistically end up among the top-10 picks when the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off April 23. 

While I didn't project trades in this mock, moving proven veterans will likely be one of the bigger stories of Days 1 and 2 of the draft. That's because many teams will look to land sure-fire talent in a class with so many question marks.

One thing is certain: this draft will be a fascinating case study in positional value, as some of the highest-graded players in the class -- Jeremiyah Love, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs -- don't play positions historically drafted in the top 10.

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. You can find more draft coverage at CBSSports.com, including weekly mock drafts and regular evaluations of the top prospects.

Comparing Ty Simpson to Fernando Mendoza convinced me he'll be drafted higher than people think

Mike Renner

Round 2

Round 3

NFL Draft picks by team

Arizona Cardinals

• Round 1, pick 3 -- Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
• Round 2, pick 34 -- Keylan Rutledge, IOL, Georgia Tech
• Round 3, pick 65 -- Skyler Bell, WR, UConn

Atlanta Falcons

• Round 2, pick 48 -- T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
• Round 3, pick 79 -- Max Klare, TE, Ohio State

Baltimore Ravens

• Round 1, pick 14 -- Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
• Round 2, pick 45 -- Connor Lew, IOL, Auburn
• Round 3, pick 80 -- Billy Schrauth, IOL, Notre Dame

Buffalo Bills

• Round 1, pick 26 -- Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
• Round 3, pick 91 -- Jalen Farmer, IOL, Kentucky

Carolina Panthers

• Round 1, pick 19 -- KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
• Round 2, pick 51 -- Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech
• Round 3, pick 83 -- Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee

Chicago Bears

• Round 1, pick 25 -- Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
• Round 2, pick 57 -- Sam Hecht, IOL, Kansas State
• Round 2, pick 60 -- Domonique Orange, DL, Iowa State
• Round 3, pick 89 -- Bud Clark, S, TCU

Cincinnati Bengals

• Round 1, pick 10 -- Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
• Round 2, pick 41 -- Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
• Round 3, pick 72 -- Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia

Cleveland Browns

• Round 1, pick 6 -- Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
• Round 1, pick 24 -- Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
• Round 2, pick 39 -- Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
• Round 3, pick 70 -- Genesis Smith, S, Arizona

Dallas Cowboys

• Round 1, pick 12 -- Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
• Round 1, pick 20 -- Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
• Round 3, pick 92 -- Travis Burke, OT, Memphis

Denver Broncos

• Round 2, pick 62 -- Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

Detroit Lions

• Round 1, pick 17 -- Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
• Round 2, pick 50 -- Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State

Green Bay Packers

• Round 2, pick 52 -- Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
• Round 3, pick 84 -- Carver Willis, OT, Washington

Houston Texans

• Round 1, pick 28 -- Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
• Round 2, pick 38 -- Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
• Round 2, pick 59 -- Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
• Round 3, pick 69 -- Zane Durant, DL, Penn State

Indianapolis Colts

• Round 2, pick 47 -- Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
• Round 3, pick 78 -- Caleb Banks, DL, Florida

Jacksonville Jaguars

• Round 2, pick 56 -- Gracen Halton, DL, Oklahoma
• Round 3, pick 81 -- Sam Roush, TE, Stanford
• Round 3, pick 88 -- Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
• Round 3, pick 100 -- Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State

Kansas City Chiefs

• Round 1, pick 9 -- Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)
• Round 1, pick 29 -- Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
• Round 2, pick 40 -- Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
• Round 3, pick 74 -- Jaishawn Barham, LB, Michigan

Las Vegas Raiders

• Round 1, pick 1 -- Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
• Round 2, pick 36 -- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
• Round 3, pick 67 -- Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson

Los Angeles Chargers

• Round 1, pick 22 -- Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
• Round 2, pick 55 -- Emmanuel Pregnon, IOL, Oregon
• Round 3, pick 86 -- Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona

Los Angeles Rams

• Round 1, pick 13 -- Makai Lemon, WR, USC
• Round 2, pick 61 -- Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan
• Round 3, pick 93 -- Kaleb Proctor, OT, SE Louisiana

Miami Dolphins

• Round 1, pick 11 -- Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
• Round 1, pick 30 -- Chase Bisontis, IOL, Texas A&M
• Round 2, pick 43 -- Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
• Round 3, pick 75 -- Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
• Round 3, pick 87 -- Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
• Round 3, pick 90 -- A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU
• Round 3, pick 94 -- Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia

Minnesota Vikings

• Round 1, pick 18 -- Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
• Round 2, pick 49 -- Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
• Round 3, pick 82 -- Jake Slaughter, IOL, Florida
• Round 3, pick 97 -- Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech

New England Patriots

• Round 1, pick 31 -- R. Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
• Round 2, pick 63 -- Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
• Round 3, pick 95 -- Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia

New Orleans Saints

• Round 1, pick 8 -- Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
• Round 2, pick 42 -- Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
• Round 3, pick 73 -- Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri

New York Giants

• Round 1, pick 5 -- Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
• Round 2, pick 37 -- CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

New York Jets

• Round 1, pick 2 -- David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
• Round 1, pick 16 -- Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
• Round 2, pick 33 -- Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
• Round 2, pick 44 -- D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana

Philadelphia Eagles

• Round 1, pick 23 -- Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
• Round 2, pick 54 -- Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
• Round 3, pick 68 -- Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
• Round 3, pick 98 -- Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas

Pittsburgh Steelers

• Round 1, pick 21 -- Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
• Round 2, pick 53 -- Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
• Round 3, pick 76 -- Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
• Round 3, pick 85 -- Markel Bell, OT, Miami (FL)
• Round 3, pick 99 -- Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State

San Francisco 49ers

• Round 1, pick 27 -- Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
• Round 2, pick 58 -- Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

Seattle Seahawks

• Round 1, pick 32 -- Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
• Round 2, pick 64 -- Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
• Round 3, pick 96 -- Gennings Dunker, IOL, Iowa

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Round 1, pick 15 -- Vega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
• Round 2, pick 46 -- Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
• Round 3, pick 77 -- Keyron Crawford, EDGE, Auburn

Tennessee Titans

• Round 1, pick 4 -- Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
• Round 2, pick 35 -- Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (FL)
• Round 3, pick 66 -- Keionte Scott, S, Miami (Fla.)

Washington Commanders

• Round 1, pick 7 -- Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
• Round 3, pick 71 -- Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas