Former Scout Releases 2026 NFL Draft First Round Value Board ⎯ The Pick Is In…

Reading Time: 8 minutes

“If any team dares to draft Fernando Mendoza in the first three rounds, this guy is an absolute guaranteed bust.”

— Daniel Kelly
Former NFL Scout
Fox Sports Radio
Straight Fire With Jason McIntyre pic.twitter.com/OCzCUxG1o8

— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) March 14, 2026

Fernando Mendoza, Fernando Mendoza, Fernando Mendoza…

If you are looking for another copy-and-paste first-round board featuring quarterback (QB) Fernando Mendoza, you will not find that here. Nope. I have a fourth-round value on Mendoza.

What?

Fourth-round?

Yep.

That’s how his game film at Indiana translates to the NFL. He’s a low-ceiling developmental type talent. I’m sorry, but an NFL quarterback prospect has to be able to do more than hide behind the No. 1 college team in the country.

Mendoza is so incredibly limited from an NFL perspective.

You see, this first round board is different. It’s driven by documented game film study. It’s not a “mock draft board” predicting who’s going to be selected where. It’s a game film-driven “value board.” It’s a reflection of what these prospects have actually done in college and how that actually relates to the NFL. In other words, I’m looking for prospects who show the kind of ability in college football that translates into success in the NFL.

How long did it take to put this top-32 value board together?

12-months.

6-to-7 days a week.

17-20 hours a day.

How much film study was involved during the process of coming up with the Top-32 in this year’s draft?

How many games did I study to come up with my top-32?

737 games

How many other games total did I study on other prospects in this draft cycle that didn’t make the first-round cut?

413 games

How many games total did I study for this draft cycle?

1,150 games

To put that into perspective ⎯

There are 272 games in an NFL regular season.

Information gathering

“We’re in the information-gathering business.”

That was the saying in the building where I worked at the Jets. That’s the environment I came up in, and it’s the foundation of everything I’ve been taught since by my NFL mentor. Scouting is akin to being a private investigator, and every piece of information is a piece of each prospect’s evaluation puzzle. When it comes to information gathering, there’s a lot of information I don’t have access to with what I do now. I don’t have access to the FBI-level background checks run by teams, and I can’t see the medicals. I’m unable to go to the college campuses and interview people associated with the prospects, and I am not at the NFL Combine watching and listening to the prospect interviews conducted by the teams.

But one thing I do have access to is the game film…

I leverage that as hard as I can.

Besides Mendoza, are there any other “popular” first-round prospects missing from this 2026 First Round Top-32 Value Board?

• Arvell Reese, Linebacker, Ohio State
• Sonny Styles, Linebacker, Ohio State
• Peter Woods, Defensive tackle, Clemson
• Ty Simpson, Quarterback, Alabama

Someone is going to need to explain the “first round hype” that surrounds Reese and Styles to me. Woods really regressed on his 2025 game film.

What’s wrong with Simpson?

My comp for Simpson is QB Zach Wilson. I had a third-round pre-draft grade on Wilson—similar prospects.

Without further ado…my 2026 NFL Draft First-Round Top-32 Value Board…

*Each prospect includes scouting report links and all the game film links used to form these evaluations

Top-5

pic.twitter.com/9cyWU6MQ72

— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) March 29, 2026

1.01 Carson Beck, Quarterback, University of Miami

Total number of games evaluated: 43

2023 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2024/05/carson-beck-potential-nfl-franchise-qb/

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/01/former-nfl-scout-gives-carson-beck-benefit-of-the-doubt/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/01/carson-beck-2026-nfl-draft-qb1/

* How Beck reinvented himself at the University of Miami is the most understated story in the 2026 NFL Draft. It also bodes well for him as he transitions to his new NFL team.

What are some of the things I really like about Beck?

• Ability to read pass coverage
• How comfy he is in a clean or dirty pocket
• Does a good job maintaining downfield focus
• Excellent at moving and manipulating defenders with his eyes and body positioning
• Quickest time to throw in this quarterback class (2025 Pro Football Focus: 2.40 seconds)

1.02 Jeremiyah Love, Running back, Notre Dame

Total number of games evaluated: 28

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/08/jeremiyah-love-is-a-name-to-know/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/02/jeremiyah-love-hall-of-fame-grade/

It is only the fourth time I am putting a Pre-Draft Hall of Fame Grade on a prospect since the 2021 NFL Draft…

Who were the other three?

2023: Jalen Carter (Defensive Tackle)

2024: Brock Bowers (Tight End)

2025: Ashton Jeanty (Running back)

1.03 Mansoor Delane, Cornerback, LSU

Total number of games evaluated: 21

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/10/mansoor-delane-showed-first-round-skill-set-on-2024-film/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/02/lsu-cornerback-mansoor-delane-covers-like-a-blanket/

The NFL is about two things ⎯

Passing the ball and stopping the pass.

With that said ⎯

Delane is a lockdown corner.

1.04 David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

Total number of games evaluated: 23

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/10/david-bailey-understands-the-art-of-leverage/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/02/david-bailey-looks-like-a-man-among-boys-on-game-film/

If someone asked me to describe Bailey in three words or fewer, I’d say, “Explosive pass rusher.”

1.05 Carnell Tate, Wide Receiver, Ohio State

Total number of games evaluated: 26

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/09/ohio-state-wide-receiver-carnell-tate-has-great-hands/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/01/wide-receiver-carnell-tate-looks-special-on-game-film/

I’ve evaluated all of the Ohio State wide receivers to come out in the past few drafts ⎯

Garrett Wilson

Chris Olave

Jaxson Smith-Njigba

Marvin Harrison Jr.

Emeka Egbuka

And Tate is my favorite out of all of them.

6-10

pic.twitter.com/pP7rV74zcB

— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) April 2, 2026

1.06 Spencer Fano, Right Tackle, Utah

Total number of games evaluated: 24

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/08/utah-right-tackle-spencer-fano-is-dominant/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/01/offensive-tackle-spencer-fano-sets-the-edge/

One of the best right tackles I’ve ever evaluated.

Dominant pass blocker and a dominant run blocker.

‘Nough said.

1.07 Caleb Downs, Safety, Ohio State

Total number of games evaluated: 30

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/07/ohio-state-safety-caleb-downs-has-once-in-a-lifetime-speed/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/01/caleb-downs-shutdown-safety/

Heard of shutdown corners before?

Well…

Downs is a shutdown safety. It’s a new scouting term I’m coining.

Just how fast is Downs?

He’s the fastest safety I’ve ever evaluated. That bodes well for cutting explosive plays by opposing offenses.

1.08 Monroe Freeling, Left Tackle, Georgia

Total number of games evaluated: 14

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/03/monroe-freeling-is-what-he-is/

In his first full season of starting, Freeling showed:

• Elite Speed
• Elite Athleticism
• Elite Effort

The more I studied Freeling, the more he grew on me.

Freeling is a franchise NFL left tackle waiting to happen.

1.09 Kenyon Sadiq, Tight End, Oregon

Total number of games evaluated: 27

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/09/oregon-tight-end-kenyon-sadiq-has-more-to-prove/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/03/kenyon-sadiq-scores-top-10-grade-in-the-2026-nfl-draft/

Sadiq REALLY came on in 2025. His route running became more sophisticated (which is what I was waiting to see). He’s got great hands, and he’s the best blocking tight-end I’ve ever evaluated.

1.10 Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, University of Miami

Total number of games evaluated: 24

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/07/hurricanes-rueben-bain-jr-gets-into-the-quarterbacks-head/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/01/edge-rusher-rueben-bain-jr-takes-over-games-whenever-he-feels-like-it/

When his switch is flipped on ⎯

He’s unblockable.

11-15

pic.twitter.com/A4XjXi2Vmw

— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) April 9, 2026

1.11 Makai Lemon, Wide Receiver, USC

Total number of games evaluated: 23

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/10/former-nfl-scout-impressed-by-usc-receiver-makai-lemon/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/02/wide-receiver-makai-lemon-is-electric/

The thing that really sets Lemon apart ⎯

He has uncommon determination.

1.12 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Safety, Toledo

Total number of games evaluated: 13

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/04/safety-emmanuel-mcneil-warren-is-old-and-new-school/

McNeill-Warren is a throwback safety who brought back memories of Hall of Fame safety Steve Atwater and his legendary crushing hit on Chiefs running back Christian Okoye.

McNeil-Warren absolutely hammers people, and he knows how to do it within the framework of today’s rules.

1.13 Colton Hood, Cornerback, Tennessee

Total number of games evaluated: 25

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/11/colton-hood-best-colorado-cornerback-in-2024/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/03/colton-hood-is-a-press-man-cornerback-through-and-through/

Hood has convinced me.

1.14 Zachariah Branch, Wide Receiver, Georgia

Total number of games evaluated: 26

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/11/zachariah-branch-grows-on-former-nfl-scout/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/03/former-nfl-scout-loves-zachariah-branch/

“Branch is lightning in a bottle.”

Those are my final pre-draft words on him.

1.15 Olaivavega Ioane, Left Guard, Penn State

Total number of games evaluated: 27

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/11/olaivavega-ioane-is-an-offensive-lineman-from-the-future/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/03/offensive-guard-olaivavega-ioane-is-a-smart-and-brutal-blocker/

Ioane is a fanny kicker with a high football IQ.

16-20

pic.twitter.com/293t6I0fCK

— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) April 9, 2026

1.16 Caleb Banks, Defensive Tackle, Florida

Total number of games evaluated: 14

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/08/gators-defensive-tackle-caleb-banks-is-coming-on-strong/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/03/defensive-tackle-caleb-banks-has-man-moving-power/

If it weren’t for the foot injuries ⎯

Banks would have a place in the top-10.

That’s the kind of ability he flashes on film. He produces some eyebrow-raising moments.

1.17 Kadyn Proctor, Left Tackle, Alabama

Total number of games evaluated: 26

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/07/alabama-offensive-tackle-kadyn-proctor-is-underdeveloped/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/03/kadyn-proctor-earns-first-round-grade/

Proctor really came on during the 2025 season, and he earned my respect. He found a way to get it done. That speaks to me.

1.18 Anthony Hill Jr., Linebacker, Texas

Total number of games evaluated: 26

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/07/nfl-defensive-coordinators-dream-come-true-anthony-hill-jr/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/02/texas-linebacker-anthony-hill-jr-is-a-good-football-player/

Hill is an athletic heavy-hitter who offers a lot of game planning flexibility.

1.19 Lee Hunter, Defensive Tackle, Texas Tech

Total number of games evaluated: 14

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/04/defensive-tackle-lee-hunter-moves-the-meter/

Picture a mudslide in the pocket.

1.20 Max Iheanachor, Right Tackle, ASU

Total number of games evaluated: 12

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/04/right-tackle-max-iheanachor-walls-off-the-pocket/

There’s just something about this guy. I can’t stop thinking about him and his upside.

21-25

pic.twitter.com/zCTEpF11EL

— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) April 9, 2026

1.21 Jordyn Tyson, Wide Receiver, ASU

Total number of games evaluated: 21

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/08/wide-receiver-jordyn-tyson-keeps-the-offense-moving/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/02/wide-receiver-jordyn-tyson-creates-throwing-windows/

Big-time receiving skills.

Big-time injury history.

1.22 Francis Mauigoa, Right Tackle, University of Miami

Total number of games evaluated: 29

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/07/right-tackle-francis-mauigoa-is-a-competitive-try-hard/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/03/right-tackle-francis-mauigoa-shows-he-has-what-it-takes/

Mauigoa is an athletic bully with serious protective instincts.

1.23 Germie Bernard, Wide Receiver, Alabama

Total number of games evaluated: 29

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/11/alabama-wide-receiver-germie-bernard-leaves-an-impression/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/03/germie-bernard-changes-the-complexion-of-an-offense/

Bernard is a strong receiver who can do a lot of different things.

1.24 Jermod McCoy, Cornerback, Tennessee

Total number of games evaluated: 13

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/08/cornerback-jermod-mccoy-looked-the-part-in-2024/

McCoy hasn’t played in a game since December 21, 2024. As of draft day, that will be 489 days and counting.

That’s a while…

But McCoy participated in his Pro Day on March 31, 2026. He was moving well and ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash. Nobody will know for sure how his knee will hold up until he plays in a game, but he looked pretty good moving around in the above video.

It’s a roll of the dice, but one I’m willing to take given the fact that I put a first-round grade on his 2024 game film.

1.25 Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State

Total number of games evaluated: 27

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/08/penn-state-defensive-end-dani-dennis-sutton-disappointing/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/03/theres-just-something-about-dani-dennis-sutton/

Dennis-Sutton came on like gangbusters on his 2025 film.

26-32

pic.twitter.com/IUGvAmPQKN

— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) April 10, 2026

1.26 Kayden McDonald, Defensive Tackle, Ohio State

Total number of games evaluated: 30

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/12/kayden-mcdonald-was-an-inconsistent-run-stuffer-on-2024-film/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/04/ohio-state-defensive-tackle-kayden-mcdonald-makes-a-difference/

McDonald is a force to be reckoned with.

1.27 Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

Total number of games evaluated: 22

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/08/auburn-defender-keldric-faulk-springs-into-the-pocket/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/02/defensive-lineman-keldric-faulk-has-grown-man-power/

Faulk is disruptive.

1.28 Blake Miller, Right Tackle, Clemson

Total number of games evaluated: 27

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/12/clemson-right-tackle-blake-miller-adds-his-name-to-the-mix/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/03/clemson-right-tackle-blake-miller-mr-dependable/

Miller moves the meter.

1.29 Dillon Thieneman, Safety, Oregon

Total number of games evaluated: 26

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/08/safety-dillon-thieneman-is-undependable/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/03/safety-dillon-thieneman-cuts-down-on-explosive-plays/

Thieneman is another fast safety who has the ability to cut off explosive plays. That’s a big deal in a league where 73 games were decided by three points or less in 2025 (26.8%).

1.30 Tacario Davis, Cornerback, University of Washington

Total number of games evaluated: 15

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2024/11/university-of-arizona-ball-hawk-tacario-davis/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/03/former-nfl-scout-gives-cornerback-tacario-davis-first-round-grade/

For two straight seasons on film ⎯

Davis has shown himself to be a ballhawk.

That’s all I need to know in a league where 31/32 teams passed the ball more than 50% of the time in 2025 (Team Rankings).

1.31 Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

Total number of games evaluated: 25

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/11/cashius-howell-wants-to-get-to-the-quarterback/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/03/texas-am-edge-cashius-howell-is-quarterback-minded/

Unpredictable pass rusher ⎯

Unpredictability is a good thing in a predictable league.

1.32 Antonio Williams, Wide Receiver, Clemson

Total number of games evaluated: 24

2024 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2025/09/clemson-wide-receiver-antonio-williams-fits-nfls-timeline/

2025 Game Film Evaluation: https://firstroundmock.com/2026/03/clemson-wide-receiver-antonio-williams-gets-it-done/

Williams looked like a veteran NFL wide receiver playing college football.

That concludes my First Round Value Board in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him, visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.