2026 NFL mock draft 4.0: Will the Eagles stand pat or make a first-round trade?

It is officially NFL draft week, with 16 invited prospects descending on Pittsburgh for the three-day event that begins Thursday night. While the top pick appears solidified, the draft is difficult to predict given the lack of top quarterbacks in this class, along with the number of premium players at non-premium positions.

Will the Eagles be among the teams that get aggressive and trade up in the first round? Here’s how we’re predicting the first round to play out:

Mendoza has been the projected top pick throughout the draft cycle and that is unlikely to change before Las Vegas is on the clock in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

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There has been recent buzz around David Bailey going in this spot, but the Jets should end up taking Reese, who has downhill linebacker instincts and is set to be a dynamic pass rusher in the NFL.

This is a potential tradeback spot for Arizona, but the required compensation could be too rich for teams like Kansas City (No. 9) and Dallas (No. 12) to trade up. In this scenario, the Cardinals stay put and get an immediate upgrade to their pass rusher group with Bailey’s first-step explosiveness.

With Reese and Bailey off the board, Tennessee adds a weapon in Love, who adds value as a receiver out of the backfield in addition to his game-breaking ability between the tackles in the run game.

After getting an additional first-rounder by trading Dexter Lawrence, the Giants begin to solve their issues at linebacker by adding Styles, who has elite range and block shedding skills, sound tackling ability, and strong coverage instincts.

Cleveland sends picks Nos. 6, 70, and 206 to Miami for Nos. 11, 43, and 90).

The Dolphins have a lot of picks in the first three rounds, and get aggressive to land Downs, who can play multiple roles within Miami’s secondary and has the best instincts and range of any second- or third-level defender in the draft.

With Downs, Love, and Styles off the board, Washington pivots to drafting this draft class’ top receiver in Tate, who excels in one-on-one matchups outside the numbers and can stretch the field vertically.

There has been a lot of conjecture that Tyson would fall in the draft, but that seems unlikely after he proved to NFL teams last week in a private workout that he is fully healthy and explosive. The dynamic inside-out receiver pairs with Chris Olave to give Tyler Shough more weapons on the outside of New Orleans’ offense.

Bain feels like a strong fit with Kansas City’s defense given his power profile as a pass rusher, his disruptiveness in the run game, and multiple alignment versatility.

The Giants needs to shore up their interior offensive line and taking Ioane at a position of need —with Jon Runyan Jr. and Daniel Faalele each set to become free agents next offseason — feels like a strong fit. A small tradeback could also be in play here.

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The Browns moved back from 6 to 11 in our proposed trade with Miami.

After landing here the Browns take Fano, who plays with excellent grip strength and pad leverage and has the movement skills to block on the perimeter.

Delane has been connected to the Cowboys throughout the draft process and makes it to them without a trade up. The LSU corner was a shutdown player in 2025 and has emerged as the clear top defensive back in this class.

Proposed trade: Rams send picks 13, 93, and 252 to Detroit for Nos. 17, 50, and 213.

With Mauigoa slipping down the board, Detroit is aggressive and gets a right tackle option that allows Penei Sewell to move back to left tackle, where he played in college. Mauigoa plays with a nasty demeanor as a run blocker and is smooth in his mirroring ability as a pass protector.

After losing Isaiah Likely to the Giants in free agency, Baltimore snags Sadiq, who is an elite athlete willing to do the dirty work as a blocker and is dynamic after the catch. He gives Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense another weapon down the middle of the field.

Proposed trade: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers send picks 15, 116, and 195 to Pittsburgh for Nos. 21, 76, and 99.

The run on pass catchers here continues with Lemon, whom Pittsburgh can plug into an offense that has D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. as outside targets. Lemon can force missed tackles at a high level after the catch and can command the middle of the field for Pittsburgh.

Wide receiver is a popular pick for the Jets here, but instead of taking one, they opt for a player in McCoy who has the best mix of patience in man coverage and ability to manipulate quarterbacks in zone coverage. Long term health is his biggest question, but he immediately helps New York’s secondary.

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The Rams moved back from 13 to 17 in our proposed trade with Detroit.

The Rams select an offensive weapon here in Concepcion, an explosive player who can generate big gains after the catch and is a natural vertical field stretcher from the slot or as an outside receiver.

The Vikings are a tradeback candidate here but instead take Thieneman, a scheme-versatile player who has excellent coverage instincts and ball production and fills the alley as a run defender.

Proposed trade: Carolina Panthers send picks 19, 119, and 200 to the Eagles for Nos. 23, 68, and 197.

The Eagles pounce on a falling offensive tackle in Freeling, who started just one full season at Georgia but is an excellent athlete with light feet in pass protection and can move in space as a run blocker. He becomes the Eagles’ successor to Lane Johnson with this pick.

Faulk, who played in multiple alignments for Auburn, excels as a run defender and has powerful hands and length to create separation from offensive linemen. He adds some much needed size and run stopping ability to a room in need of both.

The Bucs moved back from 15 to 21 in our proposed trade with Pittsburgh.

The run at edge rusher continues thanks to Tampa Bay, which lands a speed rusher with active hands who can counter offensive linemen when his initial pass rush is stopped.

» READ MORE: Jalen Hurts needs another weapon. The Eagles need to prioritize one in the draft.

Proposed trade: The Los Angeles Chargers send picks Nos. 22 and 86 to Chicago for Nos. 25 and 57.

The Bears have Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet as options to fill in for injured tackle Ozzy Trapilo (knee), but taking Proctor here gives Chicago a developmental player that can battle for the starting spot in 2026 and has excellent mobility and power for his size.

The Panthers moved back from 19 to 23 in our proposed trade with the Eagles.

Carolina will have a decision to make after the season about Ikem Ekwonu, their 2022 first-rounder who suffered a torn patellar tendon and is entering the final season of his rookie contract. In this scenario the Panthers take his potential successor in Lomu, who has light feet in pass protection but needs to improve his strength and run blocking.

Cleveland improves its receiver room by adding Cooper, who has strong hands at the catch point and terrific body control, makes catches through contact, and could play both slot and outside receiver.

The Chargers moved back from 22 to 25 in our proposed trade with Chicago.

The Chargers could go edge rusher here, but instead take Bisontis, an athletic interior lineman who could sneak into the back end of the first round after a strong predraft process.

The Bills signed C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency, but need long-term help at the position. Here they select McNeil-Warren, a big, explosive safety who can offer run support and has short-area coverage ability and instincts to break on routes in front of him.

Proposed trade: The San Francisco 49ers send pick 27 to New England for Nos. 31 and 95.

New England takes its right tackle of the future in Iheanachor, who has the size, arm length, and lateral quickness to mirror pass rushers while developing his core strength and hand placement.

McDonald, a stout run defender with pushing power as a pass rusher, adds some much-needed beef in the interior of Houston’s defense.

Kansas City takes Boston, a big receiver who can win vertically and thrives at the catch point with his strong hands and impressive body control on jump balls.

After adding Downs with its first pick, Miami doubles up in the secondary to take Johnson, a sticky coverage player that is competitive at the catch point even if he gives up some size and strength at 6-feet, 193 pounds.

The 49ers moved back from 27 to 31 in our proposed trade with New England.

With Trent Williams embroiled in a contract dispute, the 49ers select Miller, a consistent pass protector who is light on his feet, has a vice grip to stop pass rushers in their tracks, and the movement skills to fit into Kyle Shanahan’s outside zone scheme.

If the Seahawks are continuing to look for their archetype of long, athletic corners, Hood fits the bill as a physical press man cover corner who transitions smoothly out of his backpedal and consistently got his hands on the football last season.