{"id":518268,"date":"2026-03-12T02:56:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T02:56:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/518268\/"},"modified":"2026-03-12T02:56:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T02:56:17","slug":"2026-nfl-draft-cbs-sports-unveils-new-mock-with-big-shakeup-after-first-wave-of-free-agent-signings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/518268\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 NFL Draft: CBS Sports unveils new mock with big shakeup after first wave of free agent signings"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2026 NFL Draft is a little more than a month away and CBS Sports unveiled its newest mock following the first wave of free agency. It certainly changed the plans of some teams in the minds of the experts.<\/p>\n

Free agency can fill a lot of holes right away, but that might not sway teams from addressing those same positions in the draft. Or it allows them to focus on something completely different.<\/p>\n

So, let\u2019s take a look at CBS Sports\u2019 latest<\/a> NFL Mock Draft. We\u2019ll start with the obvious No. 1 overall pick.<\/p>\n

The Raiders get their man in Mendoza to open the NFL Draft. The Heisman Trophy winner and national champion likely has black and silver gear for April!<\/p>\n

He threw an FBS-leading 41 touchdowns this year and thrived in Curt Cignetti\u2019s system. Yes, he had a loaded roster and won\u2019t have that in Las Vegas right away. But Klink Kubiak should be able to cook something up for Mendoza.<\/p>\n

\"ArvellArvell Reese (Birm\/Lettermen Row)<\/p>\n

The Jets go defense here, naturally, with Aaron Glenn at the helm. There\u2019s a joke about Glenn falling asleep and not seeing Reese in the NFL Draft in here somewhere. All kidding aside, Glenn can\u2019t miss this former Buckeye.<\/p>\n

This past season, Reese logged 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two pass deflections. He was also named an All-American.<\/p>\n

The Cardinals no longer have Kyler Murray at quarterback, but they can rebuild the trenches for the long term anyway. Mauigoa fits the bill.<\/p>\n

CBS\u2019 latest mock draft has the former Miami star as the first offensive lineman off the board in April. This might be the highest he goes in the first round.<\/p>\n

With other teams grabbing running backs in free agency, the Titans can add a dynamic playmaker to their offense. Why not pair Love in the backfield with second-year QB Cam Ward?<\/p>\n

Love was a star at Notre Dame and one of the best running backs in college football over the last few years. Last year, he ran for 1,372 yards, 18 touchdowns and 6.9 yards per carry. Love has 40 total touchdowns the last two seasons.<\/p>\n

\"CarnellOhio State wide receiver Carnell Tate was a bright spot. (Birm\/LR)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s time to pair Tate with Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo in the weapons department. Second-year QB Jaxson Dart would have a field day if this is the Giants\u2019 draft selection.<\/p>\n

In 2025, Tate put up 51 catches, 875 yards, nine touchdowns and 17.2 yards per catch. He had 121 catches, 1,872 yards, 14 touchdowns and 15.5 yards per catch in his college career.<\/p>\n

Fano is another elite offensive lineman prospect in the NFL Draft this year. The Browns need protection up front for Shedeur Sanders, or heck, DeShaun Watson.<\/p>\n

He started 12 games at left tackle in 2023 before starting 24 games at the right tackle position over the next two seasons. The 6-foot-6, 311-pounder also ran at 4.91 40-yard-dash, so he can shed a block and move into the second level of the defense if necessary.<\/p>\n

The Commanders need to get younger on defense this coming season. Enter Bailey as the most logical option in this year\u2019s NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

Bailey led the FBS in sacks last year with 14.5 after transferring in from Stanford. He\u2019ll be plugged in right away for Dan Quinn and company.<\/p>\n

\"SepSam Navarro-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Bain Jr. cleared 20.5 sacks during his college football career, including 9.5 this past season. The star EDGE rusher finished 2025 ranked No. 1 among EDGE rushers with 54 hurries and second with 67 pressures as well.<\/p>\n

Bain has a strength that can\u2019t be taught and very quick hands. He won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award this past season, so naturally, he shouldn\u2019t last long in the draft. The Saints better pick him up fast.<\/p>\n

Now that the Chiefs addressed running back with Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, they can focus on defense with Styles in the draft. Not only did he post a blazing 4.46 40-yard-dash time, but he also recorded an NBA-esque 43.5-inch vertical jump, as well as an 11-foot-2 broad jump.<\/p>\n

This past year, Styles finished with 82 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, three pass deflections and one forced fumble. He had 244 career tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks.<\/p>\n

The Bengals need a new defensive leader with the departure of Trey Hendrickson. Downs fits the mold in the NFL Draft this year.<\/p>\n

He can cover, he can tackle and he can nab the football out of the air. A freshman All-American at Alabama, Downs got even better over the last two years and won a title with the Buckeyes.<\/p>\n

2026 NFL Draft projections from CBS Sports amid Free Agency<\/p>\n

11. Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane<\/a>, CB \u2013 LSU<\/a>
12. Dallas Cowboys: Jermod McCoy<\/a>, CB \u2013 Tennessee<\/a>
13. Los Angeles Rams: Jordyn Tyson<\/a>, WR \u2013 Arizona State<\/a>
14. Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane<\/a>, OL \u2013 Penn State<\/a>
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Colton Hood<\/a>, CB \u2013 Tennessee<\/a>
16. New York Jets: Makai Lemon<\/a>, WR \u2013 USC<\/a>
17. Detroit Lions: Akheem Mesidor,<\/a> DL \u2013 Miami<\/a>
18. Minnesota Vikings: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren<\/a>, S \u2013 Toledo<\/a>
19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq<\/a>, TE \u2013 Oregon<\/a>
20. Dallas Cowboys: Jacob Rodriguez<\/a>, LB \u2013 Texas Tech<\/a>
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dillon Thieneman<\/a>, S \u2013 Oregon<\/a>
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Keldric Faulk<\/a>, EDGE \u2013 Auburn<\/a>
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Denzel Boston<\/a>, WR \u2013 Washington<\/a>
24. Cleveland Browns: Lee Hunter<\/a>, DL \u2013 Texas Tech<\/a>
25. Chicago Bears: Monroe Freeling<\/a>, OT \u2013 Georgia<\/a>
26. Buffalo Bills: CJ Allen<\/a>, LB \u2013 Georgia<\/a>
27. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu<\/a>, OT \u2013 Utah<\/a>
28. Houston Texans: Omar Cooper Jr.<\/a>, WR \u2013 Indiana<\/a>
29. Los Angeles Rams: Kadyn Proctor<\/a>, OT \u2013 Alabama<\/a>
30. Denver Broncos: Avieon Terrell<\/a>, CB \u2013 Clemson<\/a>
31. New England Patriots: Caleb Banks<\/a>, DL \u2013 Florida<\/a>
32. Seattle Seahawks: Brandon Cisse<\/a>, CB \u2013 South Carolina<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 2026 NFL Draft is a little more than a month away and CBS Sports unveiled its newest…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":518269,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[174547,127886,175216,211753,127698,126779,179248,42973,42152,216825,127887,175512,174550,175227,7314,399,175231,126783,139553,179249,175237,179250,175243,174555,127110,175247,211754,398,396,397,42988,126786,42169,175254,99,175258],"class_list":["post-518268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ncaa-football","tag-akheem-mesidor-20-clearwater-academy-international","tag-arvell-reese-23-glenville","tag-avieon-terrell-23-westlake","tag-brandon-cisse-23-lakewood","tag-caleb-banks-21-southfield","tag-caleb-downs-23-mill-creek","tag-caleb-lomu-23-highland","tag-carnell-tate-23-img-academy","tag-cj-allen-23-lamar-county-comprehensive","tag-colton-hood-23-eagles-landing-christian-academy","tag-david-bailey-22-mater-dei","tag-denzel-boston-22-emerald-ridge","tag-dillon-thieneman-23-westfield","tag-emmanuel-mcneil-warren-22-lakewood","tag-fernando-mendoza-22-columbus","tag-football","tag-francis-mauigoa-23-img-academy","tag-jacob-rodriguez-21-rider","tag-jeremiyah-love-23-christian-brothers-college","tag-jermod-mccoy-23-whitehouse","tag-jordyn-tyson-22-independence","tag-keldric-faulk-23-highland-home","tag-kenyon-sadiq-23-skyline-senior","tag-lee-hunter-21-blount","tag-makai-lemon-23-los-alamitos","tag-mansoor-delane-22-archbishop-spalding","tag-monroe-freeling-23-oceanside-collegiate-academy","tag-ncaa","tag-ncaa-football","tag-ncaafootball","tag-omar-cooper-22-lawrence-north","tag-rueben-bain-23-miami-central","tag-sonny-styles-22-pickerington-central","tag-spencer-fano-23-timpview","tag-sports","tag-vega-ioane-22-graham-kapowsin"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=518268"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518268\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/518269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=518268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=518268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=518268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}