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Chaos or Chalk in the NFL Draft 2026 Top 10
Chaos is warranted, but chalk is safe and comfortable. Will the NFL Draft 2026 top 10 picks play it safe or put on a show?
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We have reached draft week. The 2026 NFL Draft will take place April 23-25. All the hundreds of players selected and dozens more who sign in post-draft free agency will have their opportunity to make a stamp on the league and become professional football players. Woo-hoo!
We already touched on what we thought the Jets would do with their two first-round picks. After that, our focus turned to the Giants selection at pick five. Since then, the Giants managed to acquire a second top-10 pick when they traded Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati for the 10th overall selection.
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This was a monumental move: a huge gamble for the Bengals that Lawrence can get back to being an offense-decimating force in the middle; and a huge marker indicating how the Giants want to build their roster under new leadership. The 10th pick in this draft is fantastic for New York. 2026 is thought of as a weak class overall, but that is because there is only one elite quarterback prospect, and the talent falls off quickly in the later first round and middle rounds. The top dozen or so prospects are really good though.
What do we expect of the entire top 10, culminating in what will be the Giants’ second pick of the draft at 10th overall? Is chalk that obvious, or will chaos rule? This class could make or break the John Harbaugh era in New York right as it gets off the ground. It will certainly shape several other teams as well for seasons to come.
Chaos Or Chalk in the NFL Draft 2026 Top 10?
Todd Salem: Chalk Is Perfect, Especially For The Giants
1) Fernando Mendoza – Las Vegas Raiders
No surprises here. Las Vegas takes their quarterback.
2) Arvell Reese – New York Jets
It seems a certainty that the Jets take an edge rusher. Experts disagree on which one, Reese or David Bailey. I lean toward the player with the higher upside.
3) Francis Mauigoa – Arizona Cardinals
The only elite offensive lineman in the draft goes off the board early to Arizona.
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4) David Bailey – Tennessee Titans
Tennessee gets the ‘other’ pass rusher.
5) Sonny Styles – New York Giants
This is where the draft opens up, because the Giants could go any number of directions. Them acquiring the 10th pick may also change the calculus on this fifth pick. I previously had them taking Caleb Downs, but the plan has changed. They are almost guaranteed to have a pick of a really good DB or WR at 10, so I have them pivoting to the best linebacker in the class at five.
6) Carnell Tate – Cleveland Browns
The Browns take the best wide receiver in the class. If there was another elite OT, they may have gone that direction instead, but there isn’t.
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7) Jeremiyah Love – Washington Commanders
Washington has three or four placeholder running backs, but no stars. Love should be a star (although we’ve said that about a lot of rookie RBs in recent seasons…)
8) Rueben Bain – New Orleans Saints
The third pass rusher off the board goes to New Orleans. Maybe they go wide receiver here instead, but it’s probably between the two.
9) Mansoor Delane – Kansas City Chiefs
After trading their Pro Bowl corner, Kansas City immediately replaces him with a guy on a rookie scale contract.
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10) Caleb Downs – New York Giants
I didn’t do this on purpose, but it actually feels like the most likely outcome. I think the Giants should have originally drafted Downs at five, and now, after trading Lawrence, I think Downs falls to them at 10 anyway. They could also go WR here, as two of the top three still remain available. The early part of this draft is really shaping up to be a perfect storm of fit-to-need for the Giants at both selections.
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Dan Salem: Chaos Rules The Top 10
We seem to get complete chalk, especially when there’s only one elite quarterback, or complete chaos in the top ten of the NFL Draft. Since you proposed the chalk, even if it makes perfect sense, I will embrace the chaos. How many trades is too many?
There will be at least one trade in the top 10, but predicting that Vegas will trade their top pick feels far-fetched. The Raiders need a quarterback, so I won’t get that outlandish. Behold.
1) Fernando Mendoza – Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders pick their forever QB, hopefully.
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2) Francis Mauigoa – Kansas City Chiefs (trade with New York Jets)
The Chiefs and Jets have already made one deal this offseason, so another is that much easier to close. Kansas City wants the top tackle to protect Mahomes and knows he won’t last past pick three. They swoop in and send the Jets pick #9 and two seconds and a third for pick #2 in order to select Mauigoa.
3) Arvell Reese – New York Jets (trade with Arizona Cardinals)
The Jets promptly trade back up to select Resse, sending Arizona pick #9 and two seconds. New York nets a 3rd round pick and still gets is pass rusher.
4) David Bailey – New York Giants (trade with Tennessee)
The Giants can’t help themselves, trading up one spot with Tennessee to get the other bonafide stud pass rusher. New York sends the Titans pick #5 and a 2nd rounder for their troubles.
5) Carnell Tate – Tennessee Titans (from NYG)
The Titans grab a stud receiver to support their young quarterback.
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6) Jeremiyah Love – Cleveland Browns
The Browns need a bit of everything and Love will make them immediately competitive in the AFC North.
7) Rueben Basin – Washington Commanders
Washington loves its defense and the best remaining pass rusher trumps any other position. They build upon their strength with Basin.
8) Sonny Styles – New Orleans Saints
The Saints are hoping Styles can be the leader of their defense for years to come.
9) Caleb Downs – Arizona Cardinals (from NYJ)
The best player available goes to the desert.
10) Mansoor Delane – New York Giants
The Giants need major help in the secondary. Delane is the best player to do just that.
Meet our Sports Writers:
Dan Salem is Lead Editor and Co-owner of BuzzChomp. He’s an award winning Actor, Director and Producer. Visit M Square Productions for his film work, or get lost in his old-school comedy on Pillow Talk TV. You can follow him on X, TikTok and Instagram. His latest film ‘Alone’ is now on Amazon.
Todd Salem is a Staff Writer and Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp. He’s also a champion of fantasy football and fantasy baseball, dominating leagues for over two decades. Comment below on his unfiltered opinions.
NFL Draft 2026 – This Is The End
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